Steel is the most widely used material in the world. In terms of sales, the steel industry is ten times larger than the aluminum industry, 7 ½ times larger than the copper industry and four times larger than the cement industry. Steel production is linked to numerous ethical, environmental and social aspects throughout the value chain - but until now, there have been no uniform guidelines for their inclusion in corporate activities.
WHAT IS RESPONSIBLESTEEL™ CERTIFICATION?
A non-profit organization, ResponsibleSteel™ aims to maximize steel's contribution to a more sustainable society. Its mission is to improve the responsible sourcing, production, use and recycling of steel.
It has launched the steel industry's first international CSR certification initiative. Bringing together all the players making up the steel supply chain, ResponsibleSteel™ has worked with its members to develop an independent certification program via a process that aims to align with the guidelines and best practices of the ISEAL Alliance (the global organization for credible sustainability standards).
The ResponsibleSteel™ standard is designed to promote the responsible sourcing and production of steel within the industry. Initially, the extraction of raw materials is not taken into account.
It consists of 12 main principles:
- Leadership
- Environmental, social and governance management systems
- Health and safety at work
- Employment rights
- Human rights
- Stakeholder engagement and communication
- Local communities
- Climate change and greenhouse gas emissions
- Noise, emissions, effluents and waste
- Water management
- Biodiversity
- Shutdown and closure.
THE BENEFITS OF CERTIFICATION
- Choose a benchmark dedicated to your business sector
- Rethink your organization to meet growing customer demands
- Anticipating regulations
- Better manage your internal and external risks
- Promote your social and environmental commitments
- Consult stakeholders to co-construct an efficient approach
- Securing contracts for which CSR is a prerequisite
- Creating shared added value within your territory
- Finding ways to serve your planet better
- Attract and engage new talent.
WHICH COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS ARE COVERED BY "RESPONSIBLESTEEL™" CERTIFICATION?
To be eligible for ResponsibleSteel™ certification, the company must:
- To be a member of ResponsibleSteel™
- Select an operating site that is a candidate for ResponsibleSteel™ certification
- Be ISO 14001 certified for the operational site applying for ResponsibleSteel™ certification.
This is because ResponsibleSteel™ certification applies to an operational site (sites producing steel or raw materials required for the production of steel products, and other sites connected with steel production). It does not apply to a service provider, a mine or a production site for a finished product made up of steel components. This standard does not take into account the transportation of raw materials or products.
ResponsibleSteel™ certification applies to production sites for the following steel products: hot-rolled steel, pickled hot-rolled steel, cold-rolled steel, finished cold-rolled steel, electro-galvanized steel, hot-galvanized steel, tin-free steel, tin-plated steel, organically coated steel, section, plate, reinforcement, engineered steel, wire rod, seamless pipe, UO pipe, welded pipe.
By production site, ResponsibleSteel™ certification refers to the physical site under management or control. A single site may comprise several processing facilities and related plants for integrated steel production, including, for example, coke ovens, sintering or granulation plants, furnaces, rolling mills and coating facilities, or may consist of stand-alone facilities for the production of steelmaking raw materials such as coke or cast iron, or a stand-alone rolling mill. In all cases, the scope and perimeter of the audit will be defined at the time of application for certification, together with the applicable requirements.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR CERTIFICATION TOWARDS "RESPONSIBLESTEEL™" CERTIFICATION
- Selection of certification body, contractualization:the company applying for ResponsibleSteel™ certification selects its certification body, contracts with it.
- Site self-assessment against the standard:the company applying for certification carries out a self-assessment of its candidate site based on the ResponsibleSteel™ self-assessment framework.
- Stage 1:the auditor examines the site's self-assessment, including a review of the documentation provided, as well as a stakeholder and media analysis. Stage 1 is carried out remotely and/or on site, and enables the audit plan to be proposed, and stakeholders to be informed of the launch of the certification process and invited to participate.
- Stage 2 audit:the auditor carries out the certification audit on site. This audit includes a site visit, interviews with top management and operational staff, as well as interviews with internal and external stakeholders. The auditor assesses the level of compliance with the standard.
- Audit report: the auditor writes the report including demonstration of compliance or non-compliance with requirements, strengths observed and recommendations as part of an audit report. This report is then reviewed by an independent oversight committee determined by the ResponsibleSteel™ association.
- Decision-making: in the light of the decision made by the ResponsibleSteel™ association, the certification body makes the certification decision.
- Publication of the report: a certificate is thus issued and the report is published on the ResponsibleSteel™ website.
- Certification monitoring: the organization monitors the credibility of certification between audit activities (e.g. media monitoring, alerting interested parties).
- Surveillance audit: a surveillance audit is carried out between 12 and 18 months after the certificate is issued. The certification body ensures that conformity is maintained and that corrective and improvement actions are effective. This audit also includes interviews with internal and external stakeholders. It also takes into account changes in the audited organization.
WHY CHOOSE THE AFNOR GROUP?
- INTERNATIONAL AND MULTICULTURAL AUDITORS
Our auditors are trained to international standards in the steel industry. They are chosen for their experience in sustainability issues. Our network of experts covers the aluminum sector. - MORE TOOLS AT YOUR DISPOSAL
You're assigned a personalized, secure customer area featuring exclusive practical guides designed by our experts, communication tools, and much more... - SUPPORT AROUND THE WORLD
AFNOR Group is a leader and benchmark in management system certification services, and a pioneer in ASI certification. Whatever your specific requirements, we can help you with your projects anywhere in the world.
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