SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT

Responsible Sourcing Stronger Supply Chains

Better sourcing decisions can reduce upstream impact.
North Star is strengthening sustainable procurement through clearer supplier expectations, lower-carbon material selection and greater supply-chain transparency.
2025 procurement progress — first Sustainable Procurement Policy and Supplier Code of Conduct issued, while green steel procurement reached 86%.
DOWNLOAD ESG REPORT 2025

OUR APPROACH

Sustainable procurement turns supply-chain expectations into practical decisions.

North Star’s approach connects supplier conduct, environmental responsibility, labour and human rights, health and safety, climate considerations and responsible business practices.

Clear Supplier Expectations

Set consistent sustainability and responsible-business expectations for suppliers, subcontractors and relevant business partners.

Lower-Carbon Sourcing

Increase the use of lower-carbon and green steel while considering upstream environmental impacts in procurement decisions.

Supply-Chain Transparency

Strengthen supplier disclosure, compliance review, material traceability and ESG-related supplier management.

SUPPLIER STANDARDS

The standards behind responsible sourcing.

The Sustainable Procurement Policy and Supplier Code of Conduct apply to suppliers, subcontractors and relevant business partners, covering the core expectations below.

Legal
Compliance

Meet applicable laws, regulations and relevant requirements as a foundation for responsible business relationships.

Labour Human
Rights

Respect labour rights and human rights, including fair and responsible workplace practices.

Environment
Climate

Maintain appropriate occupational health and safety standards across supplier operations.

Health
Safety

Address environmental protection and climate considerations in sourcing and supplier practices.

Information
Transparency

Protect information and strengthen disclosure, traceability and accountability in supplier relationships.
2025 IN ACTION

From procurement policy to lower-impact sourcing.

In 2025, North Star established a clearer procurement framework and increased the share of lower-carbon and green steel while overall steel procurement volume remained broadly stable.
86% green steel procurement
The share of green steel procurement reached 86% in the 2025 ESG performance indicators.
~50% increase vs. 2024
The lower-carbon/green steel procurement share increased by approximately 50% compared with 2024.

Environmental progress

Measure. Improve. Build for the long term.

SUPPLIER ENGAGEMENT & OVERSIGHT

Engage suppliers. Strengthen accountability.

North Star is working to strengthen supplier engagement through procurement communication, policy requirements, disclosure expectations and compliance review mechanisms. The next step is to make these expectations more consistent across the supply chain.
Procurement
SUPPLIER GOVERNANCE
Implements sustainable procurement requirements and supplier management practices.
Suppliers & Partners
RESPONSIBLE SOURCING

Responds to applicable sustainability, compliance, labour, environmental and information-security expectations.

Management
OVERSIGHT & ACCOUNTABILITY
Supports policy implementation, compliance review and the integration of ESG expectations into supplier management.
Materials
TRACEABILITY & IMPACT

Improves transparency and traceability of materials and supplier performance while increasing lower-carbon sourcing.

WHAT COMES NEXT

Building a more transparent and responsible supply chain.

North Star’s next stage focuses on broader supplier sustainability requirements, stronger compliance review, continued lower-carbon material sourcing and deeper integration of ESG expectations into supplier management.

Supplier Code
Acceptance

Expand implementation and acceptance of supplier sustainability requirements.

Key Supplier
Audits

Strengthen compliance review of key suppliers.

Lower-Carbon
Sourcing

Continue to increase the use of lower-carbon materials.

Supply-Chain
Transparency

Improve disclosure, material traceability and supplier performance visibility.

ESG
Integration

Integrate ESG expectations more deeply into supplier management processes.
NORTH STAR SUSTAINABILITY

See the full Sustainable Procurement framework.

Read the North Star Annual Sustainability Report 2025 for detailed information on supplier standards, greener materials, supplier engagement and future procurement priorities.
DOWNLOAD ESG REPORT 2025