Nippon Steel Corporation — Ethics Grade C+

Nippon Steel Corporation receives an overall ethics grade of C+ (58/100) on CancelCo's corporate accountability database. Sector: Mining & Metals. Market cap: Large Cap.

Category scores

• labor: 50
• privacy: 80
• consumer: 70
• environment: 42
• humanRights: 65

Documented incidents (3)

• River Pollution Scandal (high, 2023) — Investigations found that a subsidiary knowingly discharged high levels of toxic chemical substances, including ammonium and cyanide, into the Kimitsu River over several years while falsifying measurement data.
• Workplace Safety Fatality (medium, 2022) — The company was scrutinized after a series of fatal accidents at its domestic plants. Regulators pointed to systemic failures in safety protocols and excessive overtime leading to worker fatigue.
• Steel Sheet Cartel Fine (medium, 2020) — The Japan Fair Trade Commission fined Nippon Steel for participating in a price-fixing cartel for steel sheets used in civil engineering and construction projects.

Documented good deeds

• Hydrogen Steelmaking R&D — Committed significant funding to developing carbon-neutral hydrogen reduction technology for blast furnaces.

Ethical alternatives

• Nucor Corporation — Utilizes electric arc furnace technology which is significantly less carbon-intensive than traditional blast furnaces.