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  • Overall approach
    2/14
    • Overarching commitment on deforestation
      0/6
    • Signatory to an initiative tackling deforestation
      1/1
      Signatory
      Yes
      1/1
      Natural Capital Coalition
      Royal Dutch Shell are a member of the Natural Capital Coalition.
      Open source document
    • Awareness of the value of forests
      1/1
      Awareness
      Yes
      1/1
      "One approach is to protect and restore ecosystems that absorb carbon dioxide, such as forests, grasslands and wetlands."
      Open source document
    • Target to reduce emissions from land-use change
      0/3
    • Reporting on emissions from land-use change
      0/3
  • Commodity score
    37/86
    • Palm oil
      33/86
      • Commitment Strength
        12/36
        • Commitment to protect priority forests
          12/15
          • Commitment details
            Forest-related commitment
            6/8
            Commitment to protect priority forests
            Forest-related commitment
            6/8
            Type of commitment: Certification; Sustainability commitment
            Certification schemes mentioned: RSPO
            "100% of Shell’s purchased palm oil products are certified as sustainable. Where possible we purchase physical ‘mass balance’ material according to RSPO’s principles and criteria or ISCC certified ‘mass balance’ material. Failing that, an equivalent volume of RSPO endorsed certificates are purchased. This includes all volumes purchased for trading activities."
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            Yes
            1/1
            Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            Yes
            1/1
            "100% of Shell’s purchased palm oil products are certified as sustainable. Where possible we purchase physical ‘mass balance’ material according to RSPO’s principles and criteria or ISCC certified ‘mass balance’ material. Failing that, an equivalent volume of RSPO endorsed certificates are purchased. This includes all volumes purchased for trading activities."
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all operations
            No
            0/1
            Commitment applies to all operations
            No
            0/1
             "The scope of this policy does NOT  extend to our purchase of finished fuels which may contain biofuels that were blended by others, nor to joint venture operations where Shell is not the operational controller, nor to ‘toll’ processing of products on behalf of others."
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            Yes
            1/1
            Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            Yes
            1/1
            "100% of Shell’s purchased palm oil products are certified as sustainable. Where possible we purchase physical ‘mass balance’ material according to RSPO’s principles and criteria or ISCC certified ‘mass balance’ material. Failing that, an equivalent volume of RSPO endorsed certificates are purchased. This includes all volumes purchased for trading activities."
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            Yes
            1/1
            Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            Yes
            1/1
            "100% of Shell’s purchased palm oil products are certified as sustainable. Where possible we purchase physical ‘mass balance’ material according to RSPO’s principles and criteria or ISCC certified ‘mass balance’ material. Failing that, an equivalent volume of RSPO endorsed certificates are purchased. This includes all volumes purchased for trading activities."
            Open source document
          • Target date
            Current
            1.3/1.3
            Target date
            Current
            1.3/1.3
            "100% of Shell’s purchased palm oil products are certified as sustainable. Where possible we purchase physical ‘mass balance’ material according to RSPO’s principles and criteria or ISCC certified ‘mass balance’ material. Failing that, an equivalent volume of RSPO endorsed certificates are purchased. This includes all volumes purchased for trading activities."
            Open source document
          • Target is quantifiable
            Yes
            1.3/1.3
            Target is quantifiable
            Yes
            1.3/1.3
            "100% of Shell’s purchased palm oil products are certified as sustainable. Where possible we purchase physical ‘mass balance’ material according to RSPO’s principles and criteria or ISCC certified ‘mass balance’ material. Failing that, an equivalent volume of RSPO endorsed certificates are purchased. This includes all volumes purchased for trading activities."
            Open source document
        • Commitment to protect High Carbon Stock areas and/or peatlands
          0/11
          • Commitment details
            No
            0/4
          • Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            No
            0/1
          • Commitment applies to all operations
            No
            0/1
          • Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            No
            0/1
          • Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            No
            0/1
          • Target date
            No deadline
            0/1.3
          • Target is quantifiable
            No
            0/1.3
        • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
          0/11
          • Commitment details
            No traceability commitment
            0/4
          • Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            No
            0/1
          • Commitment applies to all operations
            No
            0/1
          • Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            No
            0/1
          • Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            No
            0/1
          • Target date
            No deadline
            0/1.3
          • Target is quantifiable
            No
            0/1.3
      • Reporting and Implementation
        13/34
        • Reporting against commitments
          2/6
          • Commitment to protect priority forests
            Yes
            2/2
            Commitment to protect priority forests
            Yes
            2/2
            "100% of Shell’s purchased palm oil products are certified as sustainable. Where possible we purchase physical ‘mass balance’ material according to RSPO’s principles and criteria or ISCC certified ‘mass balance’ material. Failing that, an equivalent volume of RSPO endorsed certificates are purchased. This includes all volumes purchased for trading activities."
            Open source document
          • Commitment to protect High Carbon Stock areas and/or peatlands
            No
            0/2
          • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            No
            0/2
        • Reporting is independently verified
          1/4
          • Commitment to protect priority forests
            Yes
            1.3/1.3
            Commitment to protect priority forests
            Yes
            1.3/1.3
            certification
            "100% of Shell’s purchased palm oil products are certified as sustainable. Where possible we purchase physical ‘mass balance’ material according to RSPO’s principles and criteria or ISCC certified ‘mass balance’ material. Failing that, an equivalent volume of RSPO endorsed certificates are purchased. This includes all volumes purchased for trading activities."
            Open source document
          • Commitment to protect High Carbon Stock areas and/or peatlands
            No
            0/1.3
          • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            No
            0/1.3
        • Deforestation cut off date
          No
          0/2
        • Monitoring and verification of supplier compliance
          Non-specific monitoring statement
          2/4
          Monitoring and verification of supplier compliance
          Non-specific monitoring statement
          2/4
          "Shell will engage suppliers to review progress on a regular basis and under our contract clauses reserves the right to conduct independent audits and to terminate contracts in the event of failure to meet our expectations."
          Open source document
        • Engagement with non-compliant suppliers
          Engage with suppliers but with no time-bound threat of exclusion
          2/4
          Engagement with non-compliant suppliers
          Engage with suppliers but with no time-bound threat of exclusion
          2/4
          "Shell will engage suppliers to review progress on a regular basis and under our contract clauses reserves the right to conduct independent audits and to terminate contracts in the event of failure to meet our expectations."
          Open source document
        • Publishing supplier lists
          No disclosure
          0/4
        • Accessible grievance mechanism
          No
          0/4
        • Collaborative actions
          Yes
          2/2
          Collaborative actions
          Yes
          2/2
          Attending & contributing to meetings
          Shell state that they are currently an active member of the RSPO’s Trade and Traceability and RED working groups.
          Open source document
        • Report volumes of commodity
          Full
          4/4
          Report volumes of commodity
          Full
          4/4
          543,864 tonnes
          In 2018, Royal Dutch Shell reported their total palm oil consumption in an RSPO ACOP.
          Open source document
      • Social Considerations
        8/16
        • Commitment to ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent
          Yes
          4/4
          Commitment to ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent
          Yes
          4/4
          "Our activities in certain parts of the world affect indigenous peoples who hold specific rights for the protection of their culture, traditional way of life and special connections to lands and waters [...] We recognise the principle of free, prior and informed consent, as interpreted by the International Finance Corporation Performance Standards, as a safeguard for indigenous peoples’ rights."
          Open source document
        • Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          4/4
          Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          4/4
          ILO; UN Declaration for HR; Discrimination; Forced Labour; Child Labour; Freedom of association
          Royal Dutch Shell state that they abide by the minimum standards for human rights as set by the ILO and the UN Declaration on Human Rights. They require their suppliers to ensure their workers have freedom of association, and to be free from forced labour, child labour and discrimination. 
          Open source document
        • Gender equality in the supply chain
          No commitment
          0/4
        • Inclusion of small-scale farmers
          No
          0/4
    • Soy
      41/86
      • Commitment Strength
        18/36
        • Commitment to protect priority forests
          18/21
          • Commitment details
            Forest-related commitment
            8/10.7
            Commitment to protect priority forests
            Forest-related commitment
            8/10.7
            Type of commitment: Certification
            Certification schemes mentioned: RTRS
            "By 2020, we aim to have 100% of the [...] South American soy biodiesel used in Shell blended biofuels certified as sustainable." "We continue to support the adoption of international sustainability standards including the Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS)".
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            Yes
            1.5/1.5
            Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            Yes
            1.5/1.5
            "By 2020, we aim to have 100% of the [...] South American soy biodiesel used in Shell blended biofuels certified as sustainable." "We continue to support the adoption of international sustainability standards including the Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS)".
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all operations
            Yes
            1.5/1.5
            Commitment applies to all operations
            Yes
            1.5/1.5
            "By 2020, we aim to have 100% of the [...] South American soy biodiesel used in Shell blended biofuels certified as sustainable." "We continue to support the adoption of international sustainability standards including the Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS)".
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            Yes
            1.5/1.5
            Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            Yes
            1.5/1.5
            "By 2020, we aim to have 100% of the [...] South American soy biodiesel used in Shell blended biofuels certified as sustainable." "We continue to support the adoption of international sustainability standards including the Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS)".
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            Yes
            1.5/1.5
            Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            Yes
            1.5/1.5
            "By 2020, we aim to have 100% of the [...] South American soy biodiesel used in Shell blended biofuels certified as sustainable." "We continue to support the adoption of international sustainability standards including the Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS)".
            Open source document
          • Target date
            2020
            1.8/2
            Target date
            2020
            1.8/2
            "By 2020, we aim to have 100% of the [...] South American soy biodiesel used in Shell blended biofuels certified as sustainable." "We continue to support the adoption of international sustainability standards including the Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS)".
            Open source document
          • Target is quantifiable
            Yes
            2/2
            Target is quantifiable
            Yes
            2/2
            "By 2020, we aim to have 100% of the [...] South American soy biodiesel used in Shell blended biofuels certified as sustainable." "We continue to support the adoption of international sustainability standards including the Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS)".
            Open source document
        • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
          0/15
          • Commitment details
            No traceability commitment
            0/5.3
          • Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            No
            0/1.5
          • Commitment applies to all operations
            No
            0/1.5
          • Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            No
            0/1.5
          • Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            No
            0/1.5
          • Target date
            No deadline
            0/2
          • Target is quantifiable
            No
            0/2
      • Reporting and Implementation
        15/34
        • Reporting against commitments
          3/6
          • Commitment to protect priority forests
            Yes
            3/3
            Commitment to protect priority forests
            Yes
            3/3
            Royal Dutch Shell stated that 60% of their soy was RTRS certified, with 465.5 kt used and traded in total.
            Open source document
          • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            No
            0/3
        • Reporting is independently verified
          2/4
          • Commitment to protect priority forests
            Yes
            2/2
            Commitment to protect priority forests
            Yes
            2/2
            certification
            Royal Dutch Shell stated that 60% of their soy was RTRS certified, with 465.5 kt used and traded in total.
            Open source document
          • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            No
            0/2
        • Deforestation cut off date
          No
          0/2
        • Monitoring and verification of supplier compliance
          Non-specific monitoring statement
          2/4
          Monitoring and verification of supplier compliance
          Non-specific monitoring statement
          2/4
          "Shell will engage suppliers to review progress on a regular basis and under our contract clauses reserves the right to conduct independent audits and to terminate contracts in the event of failure to meet our expectations."
          Open source document
        • Engagement with non-compliant suppliers
          Engage with suppliers but with no time-bound threat of exclusion
          2/4
          Engagement with non-compliant suppliers
          Engage with suppliers but with no time-bound threat of exclusion
          2/4
          "Shell will engage suppliers to review progress on a regular basis and under our contract clauses reserves the right to conduct independent audits and to terminate contracts in the event of failure to meet our expectations."
          Open source document
        • Publishing supplier lists
          No disclosure
          0/4
        • Accessible grievance mechanism
          No
          0/4
          Accessible grievance mechanism
          No
          0/4
          Open source document
        • Collaborative actions
          Yes
          2/2
          Collaborative actions
          Yes
          2/2
          Providing support/advice/experience/expertise
          "In 2017, we concluded a support project with the Federation of Argentine Farmers (AFA), to help them become RTRS certified. The federation is comprised of 17,000 small- and medium-sized soy farms in Argentina and represents around 20% of the country’s soy growers. We worked on the project with Cefetra, a large European animal feed trading company, which has taken a leading role in sourcing sustainable soy meal for its European customers."
          Open source document
        • Report volumes of commodity
          Full
          4/4
          Report volumes of commodity
          Full
          4/4
          279.3 kt
          Royal Dutch Shell stated that 60% of their soy was RTRS certified, with 465.5 kt used and traded in total.
          Open source document
      • Social Considerations
        8/16
        • Commitment to ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent
          Yes
          4/4
          Commitment to ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent
          Yes
          4/4
          "Our activities in certain parts of the world affect indigenous peoples who hold specific rights for the protection of their culture, traditional way of life and special connections to lands and waters [...] We recognise the principle of free, prior and informed consent, as interpreted by the International Finance Corporation Performance Standards, as a safeguard for indigenous peoples’ rights."
          Open source document
        • Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          4/4
          Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          4/4
          ILO; UN Declaration for HR; Discrimination; Forced Labour; Child Labour; Freedom of association
          Royal Dutch Shell state that they abide by the minimum standards for human rights as set by the ILO and the UN Declaration on Human Rights. They require their suppliers to ensure their workers have freedom of association, and to be free from forced labour, child labour and discrimination.
          Open source document
        • Gender equality in the supply chain
          No commitment
          0/4
        • Inclusion of small-scale farmers
          No
          0/4
  • Commitment strength
    15/36
    Avg. score
  • Reporting and Implementation
    14/34
    Avg. score
  • Social considerations
    8/16
    Avg. score

Profile

Shell, headquartered in the Netherlands, is a group of energy and petrochemical companies operating globally. Segments of the business include the development of biofuels, using palm and soy products as a base.

Sector
Industry sector 
Biofuel
Segments
Manufacturer
HQ
HQ 
Netherlands
Collective Commitments
Consumer Goods Forum member
New York Declaration on Forests signatory

Top Brands

Shell

How we assess the Forest 500

To ensure deforestation free supply chains, companies need to adopt and implement timebound and measurable policies for forest risk commodities.

All assessments use policies published on company websites, some links may have changed or been removed since the time of assessment.

Full corporate sector performance data Forest 500 assessment methodology

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Disclaimer

This assessment has been carried out following the methodology developed for the Forest 500 project, available here. Please see our disclaimer applicable to all information contained within this site and our terms and conditions for use of data presented on this site.

All assessments use policies published on company and financial institution websites, and while we endeavor to keep them updated some links may have changed or been removed since the time of assessment.

Please contact us with any concerns or feedback about this or other assessments included in the Forest 500.