Steel is one of those materials that we just can’t do without. It’s everywhere. In the cars we drive, in the buildings we live and work in, in the appliances we use. It’s also one of the main culprits in terms of industrial emissions. Steel manufacturing is responsible for around 7% of all emissions on the planet. So it is a big deal when manufacturers succeed in finding ways to produce it in less damaging ways.
Step up U.S Steel, which has just announced it is the first steel company in the world to qualify to sell its products as ResponsibleSteel Certified Steel at its Big River facility in Osceola, Arkansas. ResponsibleSteel is the industry’s leading global standards body. It has provided certification at the site level for more than 80 sites around the world. Now for the first-time it is offering certification of the steel itself.
“ResponsibleSteel employs a comprehensive approach to its certification standards, and that is evident in the work we do here at Big River Steel,” noted Dan Brown, Senior Vice President of Advanced Technology Steelmaking for U. S. Steel and Chief Operating Officer of Big River Steel Works. “Our transparency around decarbonization and collaborative approach with our suppliers and community all play a role in what it means to have truly ‘sustainable’ steel products for our customers.”
The Big River facility. Picture courtesy of U.S. Steel and Big River Steel.
U.S. Steel’s Certified Steel standard lets producers and suppliers measure sustainability against a global benchmark. It promotes decarbonization at the site level, responsible sourcing, and stringent ESG analysis. It helps track and provide transparency across the steel supply chain. Guided by four Progress Levels, companies can improve responsible sourcing and decarbonization until they achieve full supply chain transparency and near-zero emissions. U.S. Steel has attained Progress Level 1 certification.
“This is an extraordinary accomplishment,” said U. S. Steel President and CEO David B. Burritt. “The rigorous requirements needed for ResponsibleSteel Certified Steel represent a new gold standard for responsible steel manufacturing on a global scale. This certification gives customers and stakeholders confidence that Big River is on the path to near zero and demonstrates that we are using responsible practices across our supply chain. Being the first steel company in the world to achieve ResponsibleSteel Certified Steel demonstrates our strong resolve to build a more sustainable steel industry in the United States and across the world.”
U.S Steel has an annual raw steelmaking capability of 22.4 million net tons and has operations across the United States and in Central Europe. Big River was also the first site in North American to receive ResponsibleSteel Site Certification in 2022. So, once again, it’s leading the way by achieving certification for sustainably sourced and manufactured steel.
Annie Heaton, ResponsibleSteel’s CEO, commented: “ResponsibleSteel congratulates U. S. Steel on this significant accomplishment – the first-of-a-kind across the global industry. This certification demonstrates the company’s strong ongoing commitment to transparency, credibility, and responsibility, as they make progress in their decarbonization plans.”
“Today this news sends a clear message to the market: progress towards responsible ‘green steel’ is being achieved and can be most credibly benchmarked,” she continued. “For those buyers looking to cut through the confusion of environmental claims, look no further. We look forward to U. S. Steel’s ongoing progress and leadership in the market for credible sustainable steel products.”
While this achievement applies to just one facility that represents a tiny fraction of overall steel production, it is a necessary and positive step towards further decarbonisation of this heavily-polluting industry.
