ResponsibleSteel reaches France and Spain

ArcelorMittal has achieved ResponsibleSteel certification for its Asturias Cluster in Spain, and ArcelorMittal Méditerranée in France – the company’s first sites to be certified in both France and Spain.

In Spain, sites in Asturias, Etxebarri, Lesaka and Sagunto successfully passed the third-party audit carried out by DNV GL and based on the ResponsibleSteel standard, which is the first global certification initiative for the steel industry focused on social, environmental and corporate governance (ESG) aspects.   

And in France, ArcelorMittal sites in Fos-sur-Mer (Bouches du Rhône) and Saint Chély d’Apcher (Lozère) also successfully completed the audit process, which was carried out by international auditing firm AFNOR, which specialises in assessment and certification services.

The audits are designed to verify that a steel site’s activities meet a set of rigorously defined standards across a broad range of social, environmental and governance criteria and stakeholder relations, including:

  • Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
  • Water Stewardship and Biodiversity
  • Human Rights and Labour Rights
  • Community Relations and Business Integrity

The standard is based on 12 Principles which, in turn, include a variety of criteria and requirements. To achieve ResponsibleSteel™ certification, each site must undergo a rigorous third-party audit, with the resulting report reviewed by an independent Certification Committee which makes the final certification decision.

Commenting, Philippe Meyran, CEO of ArcelorMittal’s Asturias Cluster, said: “Obtaining ResponsibleSteel certification reflects our commitment to our people, the Community and the environment in which we operate. Society’s expectations are growing and require us to be part of the solution to ensure we leave a more sustainable planet for future generations. Steel is the most widely used material in the world and those using it in sectors such as transport, automotive, infrastructure, packaging, construction, energy and household appliances increasingly require the assurance that the materials they use have been obtained through sourcing and production processes based on responsible practice.

The goal of ResponsibleSteel is to satisfy such requirements. This certification distinguishes us from our competitors and endorses the path we have undertaken to decarbonise our business and make it sustainable for future generations. This is what responsible management is about, management that combines economic development, social inclusion, environmental sustainability and transparent governance, in order to contribute to the creation of a more sustainable future for people and the planet.”

 ArcelorMittal achieved its first ResponsibleSteel site certifications in July last year, when sites in Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg announced that they were the first steel plants to achieve the certification globally, in July 2021.

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