ResponsibleSteel™ – the sustainability standard for the steel industry
Steel is everywhere – in our cars, buildings, household appliances and infrastructure. The industry therefore has a significant impact on the environment, society and the economy. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the steel manufacturing process – from raw material extraction to steel production – accounts for around 10% of global emissions.
Simply complying with local legal obligations is no longer enough to meet the increased expectations of customers, stakeholders and civil society. With ResponsibleSteel™ certification, companies can credibly communicate that they are part of and pioneers in future-oriented and responsible steel production.
Benefits of ResponsibleSteel™ certification
Customer Loyalty
Certification creates transparency and credibility with customers, partners and investors, giving them the assurance that the steel you use has been responsibly sourced and produced across all levels of the supply chain.
Process Optimisation
In stakeholder dialogue, you critically examine risks and can systematically optimise your processes.
Visibility
ResponsibleSteel™ is a globally recognised standard. Your commitment to sustainable steel production will be visible worldwide.
Competition Advantage
In many job advertisements, you will stand out with sustainable certification and position yourself as a responsible employer in employer branding.
Profitability
An independent study commissioned by ISEAL found that sustainability standards such as ResponsibleSteel™ improve market access, profitability and production for certified companies.
The ResponsibleSteel™ International Production Standard comprises 13 principles with over 500 requirements for the responsible sourcing and production of steel, including some of the most challenging sustainability areas for steel producers, such as decarbonisation.
Beyond climate protection, the standard sets requirements for labour, human rights, water, biodiversity and more. Responsible Steel™ also reviews the standard at least every five years with the support and input of members and stakeholders to ensure that progress continues to be made and to promote the highest level of responsibility in steel production.
The standard and further information can be found on the ResponsibleSteel™ website.
The ResponsibleSteel™ International Production Standard is based on the ISEAL Code of Good Practice.
This was adapted and expanded for the steel industry through a multi-stakeholder approach involving representatives from the steel industry, stakeholders and civil society.
Cooperation and transparency were central to its development, making the resulting ResponsibleSteel™ International Production Standard a globally recognised and trusted standard for steel.
Certification is carried out by a certification body recognised by ResponsibleSteel™, such as GUTcert.
Before preparing a quote, the steel company must carry out a self-assessment specified by ResponsibleSteel (internal management review) and send it to the certification body for review and quotation preparation.
The actual certification audit comprises two stages:
In stage 1, the self-assessment is reviewed and evaluated again by an auditor approved by ResponsibleSteel™. At the same time, the site documentation is evaluated and a media and stakeholder analysis is carried out.
The Stage 2 audit comprises an on-site visit with detailed stakeholder interviews by the auditors. After completion of the audit, the auditors involved in the audit prepare the audit report and issue a certification recommendation.
GUTcert carries out an initial formal check of the documentation and forwards the final report to the ResponsibleSteel™ Assurance Panel for content review. The panel proposes changes or clarifications as necessary.
Once the final report has been approved by the Assurance Panel, GUTcert issues the certificate. The certificate is published on the ResponsibleSteel™ website together with a summary of the audit report.
A ResponsibleSteel™ certificate is valid for three years. During this period, a surveillance audit is carried out by GUTcert auditors. The surveillance audit is structured in a less rigorous form than the certification audit and is intended to ensure that progress is being made in rectifying any non-conformities identified in the initial audit or recertification and that compliance with the ResponsibleSteel standard continues to be maintained.
If you would like more information, simply give us a call or send us an email. We would also be happy to provide you with a non-binding quote.
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