Commitments, policies and standards

The Shell General Business Principles, amongst other things, provides that all persons must avoid conflicts of interest between their private financial activities and their part in the conduct of company business. This Code is specifically intended to meet the requirements of Section 406 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act and the listing requirements of the New York Stock Exchange by providing for a number of implementing requirements in the area of disclosure controls and the avoidance of conflicts of interest.

Learn more about this code

In line with our Shell General Business Principles and Group Code of Conduct, we seek to work with contractors and suppliers who contribute to sustainable development and are economically, environmentally and socially responsible.

Read more about Shell for Suppliers

The Shell commitment and policy on Health, Security, Safety, Environment and Social Performance (HSSE & SP) applies across Shell. It is designed to help protect people, their communities and the environment wherever we operate.

Our HSSE & SP Control Framework contains our mandatory standards, and accompanying manuals support these goals. The framework covers 11 areas:

• contractor HSSE management
• environment
• health
• HSSE & SP management systems
• personal safety
• process safety
• transport
• product stewardship
• projects
• security
• social performance

The Control Framework applies to every Shell entity, including all employees and contract staff, and to Shell-operated ventures. It defines standards and accountabilities at each level of the organisation and sets out the procedures and processes people are required to follow. We expect joint ventures not operated by Shell to apply standards and principles similar to our own.

The Process Safety and HSSE & SP Assurance team provides assurance on the effectiveness of HSSE & SP controls to the Board.It is independent from the business and mandated at Board level by our Safety, Environment and Sustainability Committee (SESCo). The team develops and carries out compliance audits that cover a variety of possible risks in assets and projects. Outcomes from these audits and the response from Shell’s management are shared with the relevant parts of Shell and SESCo. The actions taken to address the audits’ findings are also monitored within Shell.

Shell is committed to respecting human rights as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Labour Organization core conventions. Our approach to implementing our responsibility is informed by the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. 

Learn more about our human rights approach

Since their development in 2000, companies in Shell have actively implemented the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights which guide companies in assessing human rights risks when working with public and private security.

Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights

Shell is aiming to become a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050 or sooner. We intend to meet our customers’ demand for cleaner energy, keeping in pace with society. This supports the most ambitious goal to tackle climate change laid out in the Paris Agreement: to limit the rise in average global warming to 1.5°Celsius.

It is going to take a lot of work. And, today, Shell’s business plans will not get us to where we want to be. We are on a journey and recognise the need to change. We must also work with our customers as they make changes too.

Read more about this ambition

Back in 2003, Shell made a number of commitments, including that we will not explore for, or develop, oil and gas resources in natural World Heritage areas.

Read more about these commitments

Shell is a major purchaser of biofuels for blending into fuel. We support rigorous sustainability standards to help ensure that our biofuels come from sustainable sources: in 2007 we introduced a policy that governs the way we work with our suppliers on sustainability.

Purchasing policy statement – sustainable sourcing of biocomponents

Learn more about biofuels

The United Nations' (UN) 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) seek to address the world’s biggest challenges. We welcome the SDGs and aim to play our part in helping governments and societies to achieve them.

Read more on Shell and the UN SDGs

The nature of Shell’s business means we have direct and indirect interactions with governments, regulators, policymakers and other political stakeholders. These interactions range from the practical requirements of obtaining new permits so that our business can operate safely and in line with regulations, to broad public policy discussions.

Read more about our approach to political engagement