The benefits of chemicals in everyday life
It may not be obvious, but industrial chemicals are ingredients used in many end products that are all around us. They are used to make consumer goods - from smartphones to textiles and cleaning products; from foam mattresses to food packaging and clothing. They are also used to make products found in factories, construction sites, farms and hospitals – from pipes to windows and wiring; from fertiliser to machinery components and medical equipment.
Benefits of Chemicals in Everyday Life
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Title: Value of Chemicals
Duration: 1:40 minutes
Description:
A short Shell video about how chemicals make our world.
Value of Chemicals Transcript
[Background music plays]
Upbeat music
[Text displays] [Voiceover]
IN 1838, A FRENCH CHEMIST LEFT A BEAKER IN THE SUN
[Animated sequence]
Animated representation of the narrative. Light grey background with picture of a male chemist sat on a chair centre-screen. Top right, a yellow sun. Left, two light blue coloured circles, one with a yellow atom inside and the other a yellow chemical strand. A yellow thread interacts across the screen and continues to do so throughout the video. Change to animation of a beaker filled with yellow liquid set in a light blue circle which appears on-screen underneath the sun.
[Text displays] [Voiceover]
AND ACCIDENTALLY CREATED A NEW POLYMER
[Animated sequence]
Thread interacts with animation of the sun in a light blue circle. Next to it, the liquid in the beaker changes form and becomes a rectangle.
[Video footage]
Change to video footage of yellow thread flying over a densely built up city at the foot of a mountain range, Shell pecten logo centre-screen.
[Voiceover]
Today, this and other chemical building blocks have transformed our modern world.
[Video footage]
Thread moves through a busy pedestrian crossing in a modern city. Change to footage of a couple unwrapping plastic from a sofa as the thread wraps around it.
[Voiceover]
They help make our homes more comfortable.
[Video footage]
Close-up of a hand caressing fabric. Change to footage of thread interacting with two young boys having a pillow fight on a bed.
[Voiceover]
They give us the clothes we wear.
[Video footage]
Thread interacts with a woman zipping up a child’s jacket. Change to close-up of a bobbing head with headphones listening to music as thread wraps around it.
[Voiceover]
And the gadgets we enjoy.
[Video footage]
Thread interacts with a family sat on the floor in front of a TV screen, playing PlayStation.
[Voiceover]
Products like refrigerators and packaging.
[Video footage]
Thread flies past a woman opening a refrigerator, then wraps around close-up of a hand opening plastic packaging containing cherry tomatoes.
[Voiceover]
That help keep food fresh for longer.
[Video footage]
Thread interacts with a hand taking a sandwich out of a plastic Tupperware box. Change to close-up of a pair of soapy hands as thread wraps around them.
[Voiceover]
Even the bubbles that do the dishes.
[Video footage]
Thread interacts with an adult and child washing dishes. Change to footage of thread flying past a woman drinking from a cup by a window. Change to footage of a group of joggers in a park, the thread flying in between them.
[Voiceover]
And it’s not just in our homes.
[Video footage]
Aerial footage of a garden with children playing as the thread interacts.
[Voiceover]
Products made with chemicals can care for us.
[Video footage]
Thread interacts with close-up of an adult applying a plaster to a child’s knee.
[Voiceover]
They help us see better.
[Video footage]
Thread flies past an optician fitting a pair of glasses on a young child.
[Voiceover]
And hear better.
[Video footage]
Thread interacts with a doctor fitting a hearing aid on a young woman. Change to footage of thread wrapping around hands underneath a soap dispenser.
[Voiceover]
Improving hygiene in all kinds of ways.
[Video footage]
Close-up of hand sinister being rubbed on hands. Change to footage of a medical practitioner performing an ultrasound for a couple who watch the images on a monitor. The thread wraps around the monitor.
[Voiceover]
With their help, we can make amazing machines.
[Video footage]
Thread interacts with surgeons in an operating theatre. Change to view of the earth from space as thread circles an orbiting satellite.
[Voiceover]
These building blocks don’t just care for us, they keep us connected too.
[Video footage]
Close-up of a row of connected ethernet cables as thread zooms past them. Change to footage of a man at a desk having a video call. The thread wraps around his computer and flies off.
[Voiceover]
Bringing us closer together.
[Video footage]
Thread interacts with an African woman speaking on a mobile phone in a rural location, then an Asian woman speaking on a mobile phone.
[Voiceover]
Not just virtually.
[Video footage]
Thread interacts with a couple on a video call showing their wedding rings.
[Voiceover]
But physically as well.
[Video footage]
Thread wraps around an airplane flying overhead. Change to footage of thread interacting with a woman and a child sat on her lap looking through an airplane window.
[Voiceover]
Helping society be more mobile.
[Video footage]
Thread interacts with a woman driving a scooter, then flies past a modern train going through a rural landscape.
[Voiceover]
With lighter materials that save energy and reduce CO2 emissions.
[Voiceover]
Aerial footage of a white car driving on a road lined with trees as thread circles it. Change to footage of thread wrapping around detergent a woman is preparing to put into a washing machine. Close-up of finger pressing the temperature button on a washing machine.
[Voiceover]
Inside our homes, too.
[Video footage]
Close-up of thread interacting with a pair of gloved hands applying insulation inside a home.
[Voiceover]
They even give us the key components that make renewable energy possible.
[Video footage]
Drone footage of a wind turbine at sea, the thread flying around the spinning blades. Change to slow-motion footage of an African woman walking past solar panels, the thread zipping by. Thread flies over solar panels atop a roof in a night-time city. Aerial shot of the thread shooting through a modern city.
[Voiceover]
All these products made from chemicals.
[Video footage]
Close-up of hands tying shoelaces on a pair of red running shoes as thread interacts.
[Voiceover]
Now manufactured more sustainably.
[Video footage]
Thread interacts with a football being kicked across a pitch in slow motion. Change to footage of thread zooming through a server room as ceiling lights turn on.
[Voiceover]
Help make our modern world better.
[Video footage]
Thread flies past a classroom where young kids raise their hands to a question asked by their teacher. Change to footage of a group posing for a photograph as the thread circles around the hand of the individual holding the phone. Change to light grey background with four pictures in a circular pattern representing the themes of the story as the thread moves through them and on-screen text in the centre as displayed below.
[Text displays]
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HOW CHEMICALS MAKE YOUR WORLD
[Video footage]
Thread moves centre-screen, up into the camera, filling the screen with yellow.
[Audio]
Shell jingle
[Graphic]
Shell Pecten centred on a light grey background with text as displayed below.
[Text displays]
shell.com/madebychemicals
© SHELL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED 2020
These varied end products help us to live, work and care. They can also help society respond to climate change. This is because they often have a lower carbon footprint over their lifecycle alternative materials like wood, paper or metal. Or they help us to conserve energy or transition to a lower-carbon energy system. Insulation and low-temperature detergents save energy in our homes, for example. Light-weight components in cars and planes, modern tyres and additives all improve fuel efficiency. Components help build wind turbines and solar panels.
Tackling plastic waste
How we are making chemicals from plastic waste
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Title: Shell Plastics Video
Duration: 1:23 minutes
Description:
Video showing how Shell is using plastic waste to create a valuable base chemical for feedstock.
Shell is working with companies in the U.S. to source plastic waste and using a process called pyrolysis, is turning this waste into an oil that will be used to create a feedstock for future products.
Shell Plastics Video Transcript
[Background music plays]
Shell music bed from Creative Hub: Inspiring_Confident_A_Main_Track
[Video Sequence]
Combination of stock videos that support the recycling, plastic waste messaging as well as owned video footage of Norco Facility and Nexus Fuels facility.
[Text displays]
Shell.com
[Transcript]
What if plastic waste could be turned into something valuable?
And used to make things like smartphones. Furniture. Appliances.
Shell is teaming up with innovative companies to take plastic waste
And transform it into chemicals that help make everyday products
This is a reality today
And by 2025, we hope to use 1 million tonnes of plastic waste per year in our global chemical plants
Just another way we are Powering Progress. Together.
Moving to net-zero emissions
Many end products made from chemicals can help tackle climate change. But the industrial process used to make the chemicals creates a lot of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Our ambition at Shell is to become a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050 or sooner, and chemicals have a part to play. We are looking at four main areas in our production: Firstly, each of our chemical plants is improving energy efficiency, through investing in things like heat and gas recovery systems, hybrid boilers and new catalysts. Secondly, our production sites are increasingly using lower-carbon energy sources, which Shell’s New Energies business is playing a leading role in developing. Thirdly, we are exploring carbon capture and storage (CCS) options, to capture the CO2 emissions our facilities produce. And lastly, we are developing alternative feedstocks for making our chemicals, such as biomass and plastic waste.
Click to see some recent announcements.
Growing our chemicals business
In many parts of the world, as living standards improve, consumers are buying their first refrigerator, car or smartphone. Businesses, schools and hospitals are investing in modern equipment. And many more in society are making choices based on sustainability. Shell plans to grow its chemicals business, to meet this increasing customer demand. And, as our customers’ needs are changing, so are we. We are expanding our product portfolio to include performance chemicals, as well as base and intermediate chemicals. And we are placing sustainability at the heart of our business growth. Our advantage in the market is based not just on our global presence and asset scale. We are unique. We can integrate across Shell businesses because we are developing novel technologies and digital innovations, and because we are truly focused on our customers.
Technology
Innovation and technology have long been strengths of ours. We have an enviable track record in developing and licensing technologies that produce chemicals with less energy, less waste and better yields. This deep expertise, along with our truly collaborative approach, gives us confidence that we can unlock the challenges facing the chemicals industry, particularly when it comes to sustainability. Right now, Shell scientists, researchers and engineers are working to bring our more sustainable process for making polycarbonate to a commercial scale. They are developing plastic waste and biomass as alternative feedstocks for making our chemicals. And working on using renewable electricity to heat steam cracker furnaces that are central to chemical production.
Click to see some recent announcements
A digital business
Digitalisation offers our chemicals business exciting opportunities – from new ways to understand and engage with our customers and suppliers, to new business models and ways of working. In our production plants, data platforms and digital technologies are already boosting safety, productivity, optimisation of units and availability of our chemicals. We are using mobile tools to manage information in the field, models to mimic real plant dynamics and predictive analytics to detect the early signs of problems. Data science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, drones, sensors, and 3D printing are transforming our operations.
Supporting our neighbours
Shell in the community
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Shell in the community Video
Duration: 1:08
Description:
Shell is active in the local communities where we operate. From partnering with local schools and having good dialogue with our neighbors to supporting emergency services, Shell cares about our neighborhood and environment.
Shell in the community Video Transcript
[Background Music]
Uplifting background music plays
Shell employees work at the Geismar facility in Louisiana.
[Voice-Over]
You know what’s really important to us at Shell?
An overhead drone shot of a fun run in Washington, USA transitions to a Shell employee in Germany showing school kids how a piece of technology operates.
[Text]
Anacortes, WA, USA
Cologne, Germany
LOCAL COMMUNITIES
[Voice-Over]
Being a part of the local communities where we operate.
Time-lapse of an outdoor science fair and exhibit in Cologne, Germany.
Transition to a yellow background with white type, along with inset videos and photos of Shell employees in the community.
[Text]
SO WHAT DOES THAT REALLY MEAN?
[Voice-Over]
So…what does that really mean?
[Text]
Cologne, Germany
WE FOSTER HONEST, TRANSPARENT DIALOGUE
Shell employees sit at a conference table and speak with a panel of local officials and representatives.
Cut to an outdoor concert Shell sponsors in Germany.
[Voice-Over]
It means the people at our manufacturing sites foster honest, transparent dialogue with our neighbors.
[Text]
Norco, LA, USA
COMMUNITY ADVISORY PANELS
More Shell employees sit at another conference table to speak with local officials and representatives in Louisiana, USA.
[Voice-Over]
We establish community advisory panels.
[Text]
Batangas, Phillipines
WORK WITH SCHOOLS
INSPIRE
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Young students in the Phillipines ask Shell engineers questions in a classroom setting, then see how technology works with a hands-on exhibit.
[Voice-Over]
We work with schools to inspire future scientists and engineers.
[Text]
Norco, LA, USA
BOOST SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
A montage of students in The Netherlands and the United States.
[Voice-Over]
Partner with local colleges to boost skills for confidence and future employment.
[Text]
Scotford, Canada
SUPPORT EMERGENCY SERVICES AND FIRST RESPONDERS
Shell employees interact with happy emergency responders in Canada.
[Voice-Over]
Support emergency services and first responders.
[Text]
Norco, LA, USA
Medium shot of a Pride Parade in Scotford, Canada. Transition to Shell employees surprising a local business with gifts.
Young people in Louisiana, USA test the waters in the marshlands for pH levels.
[Voice-Over]
Our employees care about each other, their neighbors and the environment.
[Text]
Norco, LA, USA
DRIVE AWARENESS
We see Shell people helping in Louisiana, USA with a food and supply drive and also putting up a fence in a nearby park.
[Voice-Over]
And we volunteer to drive awareness and raise money for important causes.
[Text]
Deer Park, TX, USA
AND RAISE MONEY
Transition to a yellow background with white type, along with inset videos and photos of Shell employees in the community.
[Text]
SO THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE ONE OF THOSE VIDEOS ABOUT
[Voice-Over]
So the next time you see a video about some big…
An impressive montage of large Shell facilities featuring advanced technology and processes.
[Text]
SHELL’S BIG, GLOBAL INITIATIVES
[Voice-Over]
technologically advanced thing Shell is doing…
Students smile and laugh, and then we see a Shell employee creating chalk art in a school parking lot.
[Text]
DON’T FORGET WE’RE JUST AS COMMITTED RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER
[Voice-Over]
…don’t forget we’re just as committed to being a great neighbor...right around the corner.
Transition to a yellow background with white type.
[Text]
LEARN MORE AT SHELL.COM/COMMUNITIES
Close card with pecten and mnemonic.
Digitalisation offers our chemicals business exciting opportunities – from new ways to understand and engage with our customers and suppliers, to new business models and ways of working. In our production plants, data platforms and digital technologies are already boosting safety, productivity, optimisation of units and availability of our chemicals. We are using mobile tools to manage information in the field, models to mimic real plant dynamics and predictive analytics to detect the early signs of problems. Data science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, drones, sensors, and 3D printing are transforming our operations.