The United States Steel Corporation (U.S. Steel) Big River Steel mill in Osceola, Ark., recently achieved the first ResponsibleSteel site certification in North America.
ResponsibleSteel is an international, nonprofit multi-stakeholder membership organization. Its standard is based on 12 principles and is a global benchmark for leading practices in environmental, social, and governance responsibility for steel production.
U.S. Steel’s core foundation of safety first, trust and respect, environmental stewardship, excellence and accountability, and lawful and ethical conduct align with ResponsibleSteel’s 12 principles.
Certification demonstrates a commitment to raising the bar on providing high grades of steel sustainably and operating ethically, U.S. Steel said.
“We are thrilled to be the first steel company in North America to achieve ResponsibleSteel certification for our Big River Steel site,” David B. Burritt, U.S. Steel president and CEO, said. “This marks an important milestone on our journey to build a more sustainable future for our customers, company, colleagues, communities, and the planet.”
An SRI Quality System Registrar (SRI) conducted an independent third-party audit and determined the mill met the stringent requirements of the ResponsibleSteel Standard. SRI is an international assessment and certification body.
The audit did identify three areas requiring further improvement. Two involve paid annual leave and paid maternity leave.