NS BlueScope Vietnam a torch-bearer of responsible steel production

Sustainable production has become a trend that many manufacturers are pursuing. While some companies view it merely as a PR strategy, NS BlueScope Vietnam, genuinely believes that actions speak louder than words.

NS BlueScope Vietnam factory in Phu My is the first in Southeast Asia to achieve the certification

By pursuing a global certification, NS BlueScope Vietnam became the first steel company in Vietnam and Southeast Asia to earn the ResponsibleSteel certification.

“When we began our journey, we did not know we would be the first in Vietnam and Southeast Asia to pursue this certification. Our guiding principle was simply to do the right thing and to spread that ethos throughout the community,” said Vo Minh Nhut, president of NS BlueScope Vietnam.

The 370 specific criteria covering environmental, social, and governance aspects such as climate change, emissions, water management, biodiversity, worker safety and rights, and community relations, are all tailored specifically for the steel industry. This certification is also a roadmap for the steel industry to achieve net-zero emissions across the supply chain.

“Since its launch in 2019, the certification has become a unified framework for around 80 steel plants in 15 countries, representing approximately 125 million tonnes of global steel production,” said Annie Heaton, CEO of ResponsibleSteel.

“What makes it unique is that our on-site verification is not just based on the company’s reports. We interview local communities, employees, contractors, and other entities to ensure a shared understanding of responsible steel production,” Heaton added.

Truong Anh Hai, vice president of NS BlueScope Vietnam, said, “We have a carbon emission reduction roadmap in place from very early on, following the comprehensive environmental, social, and governance principles. Our goal is to reduce carbon emissions by 30 per cent per unit of product by 2030.”

Promoting awareness

In practice, the ResponsibleSteel assessment process can take 1-2 years, including on-site verification by an independent certification body.

However, NS BlueScope Vietnam is not only daring to take on the rigorous certification but also aspires to become a leader in Vietnam, promoting awareness of this certification within the local steel community.

“Achieving certification is only half of our journey. The next step is to spread this certification within the domestic coated steel community,” said Hai. “It presents a challenging set of criteria for any steel company, but it is also a learning process on how to produce responsibly. Implementing it offers companies the opportunity to refine their internal processes towards sustainable production.”

Nhut added, “For us, responsible steel production goes beyond a piece of paper; it’s embedded in every employee’s spirit and daily activities. We hope to make ‘responsibility’ a keyword for every leader in the coated steel industry.”

According to Heaton, in other countries, when one company achieves this certification, competitors also strive to obtain it to maintain a competitive edge.

“However, Vietnam is still in the early stages of responsible steel production, and ResponsibleSteel is not yet a local construction requirement. Therefore, I highly commend NS BlueScope Vietnam for pioneering this effort,” she said.

NS BlueScope Vietnam's green factory model on display Vietnam Investment Review and the Vietnam Industrial Real Estate Association (VIREA), along with other businesses, had a tour visit to NS BlueScope Vietnam factory in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province on July 31.

NS BlueScope Vietnam honours excellence at 2024 Vietnam Industrial Architecture Awards NS BlueScope Vietnam, a steel coil coater and painter, was honoured at the 2024 Vietnam Industrial Architecture Awards on September 23.