Product stewardship

Through the Product Stewardship programme, we set out to ensure that all HSE aspects of a product are responsibly and ethically managed at every stage of the product's life cycle, as well as supporting the activities and information needs of our customers and other groups involved with our organisation.

Some of the key activities undertaken include:

• Using Hazard Communication systems to provide product users 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.
• Using 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 the European Chemical Industry Council (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.
• Implementing appraisal processes for customer and distributor bulk reception facilities to minimise the risk of incidents occurring during the unloading of our products.
• Providing training to our customers in, for example, the handling and emergency response requirements related to our products. This can take various forms, such as helping to stage an emergency response exercise in conjunction with the local authorities, or providing training videos that can be used as part of a company's own safety programme.

Shell chemicals companies also follow a management systems process for characterising and managing product risks, as described in the following document:

Shell Chemicals Product Risk Characterization and Management Process