Worldsteel: Sustainability indicators for 2012 show steady improvement

Steel News  |  2012-10-10 05:35:00   |   By

Worldsteel has published its 2012 Sustainability Indicators, presenting the industry’s progress on its sustainability programmes and reaffirming its commitment toward sustainable development.

BRUSSELS (Scrap Monster): World Steel Association (worldsteel) has published its 2012 Sustainability Indicators, presenting the industry’s progress on its sustainability programmes and reaffirming its commitment toward sustainable development.


“Sustainability is the core value of the World Steel Association and a sustainable world is a vision members of the steel industry are committed to delivering. Over the years, worldsteel has introduced a series of initiatives to address the sustainability challenges we face, individually and together as an industry. We are pleased and proud to see the growing and proactive participation of our members in worldsteel’s sustainability programmes,” said Sajjan Jindal, Chairman of worldsteel Sustainability Committee (SUSCO).

--Sustainability Indicators: Established in 2003, the indicators measure progress of sustainability performance of the steel industry. The 2012 Sustainability Indicators capture data from 100 member and non-member companies and organisations in 2011, representing 676 million tonnes of steel, or 45% of world production, and US$ 665.9 billion in annual revenues.

--Sustainability Development Charter: Confirming their support for the commitments toward sustainable development, more than 50 worldsteel member companies signed the sustainable development charter in 2008. The number increased to 66 in 2012.

--CO2 Data Collection and Climate Action Programme: The data collection launched in 2007 with 38 companies reporting, which has now increased to 44 steel producers submitting their CO2 emission data in 2011. The Climate Action programme started in 2009 to recognise those companies participating in measuring the industries' CO2 emissions.

--Safety and Health Excellence Recognition: The programme started in 2009 with 12 submissions to recognise excellent safety and health initiatives. It received 38 submissions in 2012 and four companies have been recognised for their excellent improvements this year.

--Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) Study: The first study began in 1995 to evaluate the environmental performance of the steel industry and steel products. The third study was completed in 2010 with data from 49 steel producing sites in 17 countries covering 25% of global steel production.

“Sustainable development must meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Steel products help to meet society’s needs, and as producers of steel, it is our responsibility to meet the growing demand for steel in a sustainable way. The industry continues to evolve and aims to make steel the most innovative and sustainable material of the 21st century,” said Edwin Basson, the Director General of worldsteel.