Environmental Commitments

An uncompromising environmental policy

With regard to the environment, our approach and standards are in line with the 10 principles defined by the group in July 2007 to underpin its environmental policy.

We are therefore stakeholders in several large-scale projects, such as ULCOS (Ultra-Low CO₂ Steelmaking) which is seeking to reduce CO₂ emissions. We are also developing innovative initiatives such as RECYCO which will enable the recycling of steelmaking by-products that were not previously reclaimed.

We are investing in sustainable process control and in the improvement of production facilities. This is particularly the case with the establishment of new non-polluting lines such as LC2i (Continuous Integrated Stainless Line) in Isbergues.

For further information: the 10 principles of ArcelorMittal’s environment policy.

Certification and monitoring

Most of our Stainless Europe production plants are now certified in accordance with standard ISO 14001, the internationally recognised standard for environmental management systems. Our service centres co-located with a production centre, such as the Isbergues centre, are also ISO 14001 certified. All sites should be certified in accordance with this standard by the end of 2008.

Furthermore, we are organising constant monitoring at all levels of regulatory and standard-related developments relating to stainless steels: with dedicated teams at each site, with lawyers specialising in environmental matters, with the environment representative of the stainless segment, with outside consultants.

Visit ISO website for further information regarding ISO 14001 certification and click here to follow our mill's ISO 14001 certification.

REACH

REACH is the new European regulation concerning the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restrictions of chemicals. It imposes upon industrial companies the responsibility for evaluating and managing the risks posed by chemical products and for providing their users with adequate safety information.

Within ArcelorMittal, we are actively preparing for this change, with an ad hoc organisation (working groups, referral agents per sector of activity, etc.). The Group is also involved in the work of the REACH platform established by Eurofer, the European confederation of iron and steel industries.

In 2008, we will participate in the “pre-registration phase”, identifying the substances that we import and that we place on the market. We will of course contact our customers and suppliers as our work advances.

For further information about REACH:
European commission website