“Our membership in ResponsibleSteel shows what motivates us: responsibility for sustainable steel production entirely in line with Pure Steel+,” explains Stefan Rauber, Chairman of the Management Board of SHS – Stahl-Holding-Saar. “The initiative’s multi-stakeholder concept emphasizes that to achieve a sustainable value creation process, all levels of the steel supply chain must contribute.” Rauber adds: “It is also one more signal to our customers that our concept for the transformation to carbon-reduced steel and its implementation is holistic.”

ResponsibleSteel has over 130 members worldwide, including steel producers and buyers as well as mining companies and civil society organizations. Among other things, the non-profit organization has developed an independent certification program for the steel value chain that can be used to certify companies.

As part of joining the initiative, SHS has committed to and is actively supporting the 13 principles of the first global standard for responsible production and processing. The ResponsibleSteel International Standard was published in a revised version in September 2022 and includes principles applying to the following topics:

1. Corporate Leadership
2. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Management Systems
3. Responsible Sourcing of Input Materials
4. Occupational Health and Safety
5. Employee Rights
6. Human Rights
7. Stakeholder Engagement
8. Local Communities
9. Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
10. Noise, Emissions, Effluents and Waste
11. Water Stewardship
12. Biodiversity
13. Decommissioning and Closure

“We’re delighted to have SHS – Stahl-Holding-Saar join ResponsibleSteel,” says Annie Heaton, CEO of ResponsibleSteel. “It is crucial that we encourage the rollout of the ResponsibleSteel International Standard across steelmaking sites globally to accelerate the responsible production of net-zero steel. SHS’s two steel companies, Dillinger and Saarstahl, collectively produce over 5 million tons of steel every year and are key players in Europe’s steel industry. SHS is already taking significant steps to reduce emissions and is planning to introduce new innovative  processes and to switch to using natural gas and hydrogen as reductants in place of coal. We look forward to working with them to accelerate the transition to net zero.”

About ResponsibleSteel:

ResponsibleSteel is a global multi-stakeholder standard and certification initiative for the steel industry. Its mission is to be a driving force globally in the socially and environmentally responsible production of net-zero steel.

ResponsibleSteel’s members include some of the leading players in the industry working together to minimize the impact of steel manufacturing on people and the planet. Businesses from every part of the steel value chain, civil society groups, and other organizations are welcome to join. ResponsibleSteel’s underlying purpose is to maximize steel’s contribution to a sustainable world by:
– Providing a multi-stakeholder forum to build trust and achieve consensus;
– Developing standards, certification and related tools;
– Driving positive change through the recognition and use of responsible steel.

The ResponsibleSteel International Standard is designed to support the responsible sourcing and production of steel. It covers a range of sustainability issues including emissions, pollution, responsible sourcing, human rights, labor standards, and more. For more information about ResponsibleSteel, please visit https://www.responsiblesteel.org/….