Sustainable production and processing of steel: thyssenkrupp Steel to become a member of ResponsibleSteel

• thyssenkrupp Steel joins ResponsibleSteel, the global initiative to formulate a multi-stakeholder standard for the steel industry.
• Concept of sustainability calls for cooperation along the entire value chain.
• Steel makes an important contribution to a sustainable society.

thyssenkrupp Steel will join ResponsibleSteel, a non-profit organization, that ensures, through a global standard and certification program, that steel is responsibly sourced and manufactured at every stage. To thyssenkrupp the commitment to the Responsible Steel standard is another important element of the sustainable transformation process. 

ResponsibleSteel pursue a global sustainability approach

Companies from all areas of the steel value chain, civil society groups, associations and other organizations are working under the umbrella of ResponsibleSteel to enhance the contribution of steel to a sustainable society. This includes – among other things – the responsible procurement of raw materials, production, use and recycling of steel. Aside from being commited to a sustainable supply chain, ResponsibleSteel have developed a wide spectrum of social and ecological criteria which extend the concept of sustainability to include issues such as health and safety, greenhouse gas emissions, water management and biodiversity, human and labor rights, and community relations.

Sustainability approach along the entire value chain

“We are very glad to become a member of ResponsibleSteel. By committing ourselves to the principles of ResponsibleSteel certification process, we want to give our customers the certainty that we are shaping our transformation to climate-neutral steel production along the entire value chain, also taking into account social and ecological criteria“, explains Arnd Köfler, thyssenkrupp

Steel’s CTO. “It is of particular importance to us to pursue these goals jointly with our downstream users and customers. The membership in ResponsibleSteel is another step on our road to sustainable and climate-neutral steel production“.

Ali Lucas, acting CEO for ResponsibleSteel said, “ResponsibleSteel are thrilled to welcome thyssenkrupp Steel as a member. We are a growing and dynamic organization and active participation is what makes our unique power and influence in the market. We are rolling out the ResponsibleSteel Standard across the globe and we are proud that our positive impact is already making a change. thyssenkrupp Steel membership will be  a fundamental part of this. We look forward to our work together as we advance steel’s and its manufacturers’ contribution to a sustainable society”.

Steel is the material for the energy transition

The importance of steel is not just reflected in its biggest customers, the automotive industry, the mechanical engineering or the electrical industry. Steel is also of enormous importance for the energy transition: It is an essential material for the construction of wind turbines and power plants. Likewise, consistent lightweighting design within the framework of new grade and processing concepts in automotive construction can help to sustainably reduce fuel consumption. Against this background, the decarbonization of the steel industry which accounts for about 7 % of global CO2 emissions is of special importance. thyssenkrupp has therefore set itself the goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 30 % by 2030, and to make steel production climate-neutral by 2045 at the latest.