Product stewardship

Product Stewardship is a key component in Shell chemicals companies’ overall commitment to setting and achieving high standards in the management of health, safety, security and environmental (HSSE) issues related to our products. We work closely with customers and industry to promote responsible and ethical management of product related HSSE issues.

We support allowing industry to evaluate hazards relating to its products and sharing the information with customers and the public. This, in turn, allows everyone to make informed decisions when handling, transporting and using chemical products.

Key activities

• Shell representatives are actively involved in CEFIC (European Chemical Industry Council) and the ACC (American Chemistry Council) Higher Olefins Panel. This involvement allows us to be aware of best practices in product transport and handling and stay aware of legislative developments.

• As a way to share best practices and further promote safety and security, specially trained Shell HSSE experts are available to visit customer premises and provide guidance on product handling. Shell has developed standard checklists that systematically assess the adequacy of receiving facilities.

• Our Hazard Communication systems aim to provide users of our products with consistent hazard information, in their main local languages. In this way we ensure that users have the information they need to manage risks when handling, disposing of or transporting our products.

• We have assurance processes to verify the quality of all modes of transport. In Europe, for example, we use the Safety and Quality Assessment Scheme (SQAS) developed by CEFIC, to ensure high safety and quality standards among our road hauliers. Globally, we use the Shell ‘Safe C’ and CEFIC’s Chemical Distribution Initiative (CDI) schemes to assess our bulk marine carriers.

• We also train our own commercial and business employees - as well as our HSSE advisers and experts - so that they can understand and apply HSSE principles in their day-to-day activities and interactions with customers.