ResponsibleSteel™ certification for ArcelorMittal Hamburg
On 21 April 2026, ArcelorMittal Hamburg has been awarded the ResponsibleSteel™ certificate for the responsible production of steel. The award confirms the site’s comprehensive commitment to sustainability, social responsibility and high environmental standards.
The certification followed a two-year independent audit process. On behalf of the ResponsibleSteel™ organisation, the certification body GUTcert assessed the Hamburg site against the principles of the ResponsibleSteel™ International Production Standard. The audit process involved numerous internal and external stakeholders, including employees, trade unions and regional partners.
This means that all four ArcelorMittal production sites in Germany are now certified: Hamburg alongside Bremen, Duisburg and Eisenhüttenstadt. It is a clear commitment to transparency, continuous improvement and the path to climate-neutral steel production.
Thoralf Winkel, Chief Executive Officer of ArcelorMittal Hamburg, explains:
“For us, the ResponsibleSteel™ certification is far more than a formal piece of documentation. It stands for our shared values and our consistent commitment to sustainability, integrity and responsible conduct. With this, we are making a clear promise – to the environment, our local communities and future generations.”
Winkel thanked everyone involved who contributed to the successful completion of the certification process: “My special thanks go to the project leaders who steered this process with expertise and vision, as well as to the teams and all employees whose daily efforts made this success possible.”
Following the completion of the audit phase, the certificate was officially unveiled in the plant’s administration building and celebrated during a ceremony.
In the photo from left to right, the ArcelorMittal team in charge of the certification, together with ResponsibleSteel's head of membership and communications: Dr. Michel Wurlitzer, Thoralf Winkel, Dr. Sebastian Gellert, Tobias Fiedler, Joe Woodruff (ResponsibleSteel™), Susanne Kaden, Dr. Peter Kehl, Franziska Ledder, Christoph Schlumbom
Annie Heaton, CEO of ResponsibleSteel™, welcomed the announcement, saying, “We congratulate ArcelorMittal Hamburg on achieving ResponsibleSteel™ Core Site Certification. As Europe’s only DRI‑EAF steelmaking site, this is an important milestone for the region’s steel industry. As the site works towards its ambition of producing near‑zero steel, this certification demonstrates that decarbonisation is being pursued alongside strong social and environmental practices. We look forward to continuing to support ArcelorMittal Hamburg on its journey towards responsible, lower‑emission steel.”
On the path to climate-neutral steel production, the ResponsibleSteel™ standard makes an important contribution to supporting net-zero targets. The certification of ArcelorMittal Hamburg is based on the core criteria of the international production standard, which covers, among other things, labour rights, biodiversity, and environmental and climate protection.
ResponsibleSteel™ is an international non-profit organisation that has developed sustainability standards and an independent certification programme for the global steel value chain. The initiative brings together companies, trade unions and civil society organisations. Today ResponsibleSteel™ has more than 150 members and partners worldwide.
