At Shell we want to help drive a more sustainable future by reducing our carbon footprint. We are committed to providing lower-carbon alternatives to the products that we offer.

Lubricants play a vital role in keeping the world moving. As the world’s need for mobility increases, so too will the demand for lubricants.1 And there is a need to balance this increase in demand with the environmental impact of lubricants. As part of Shell Lubricants, we understand that our customers expect brands to offer sustainable products and services and make it easier for them to make sustainable choices.2 Motorists and vehicle manufacturers want lower-carbon alternatives for their current and future mobility needs.

Shell is the biggest supplier of lubricants in the world.3 Shell Lubricants focuses on delivering products designed to achieve efficiencies in technologies with moving metal parts, helping achieve fuel economies in passenger and commercial vehicles.

To achieve this, we are focused on two strategic initiatives:

  1. Reducing the CO2e* intensity of our own products.
  2. Helping customers manage their sustainability needs.

*The CO₂e lifecycle emissions of this product have been offset with verified Nature-Based Carbon Credits

REDUCING CO₂ INTENSITY OF OUR PRODUCTS

Truck driving towards the mountains.

Avoid

We avoid emissions by optimising the efficiency of our production processes and product designs and by aiming to embed circular economy thinking at the heart of our lubricants business. By designing products with reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and less packaging (e.g. by providing bigger, re-usable packaging, encouraging customers to buy bulk and transporting products using LNG trucks) we aim to keep products and materials in use for longer.

Wind turbine, wind farm in green field with dirt road.

Reduce

We reduce emissions by improving the energy efficiency of our facilities and increasing the use of renewable energy to help reduce the CO2e emissions of our supply chain

Sea to Sky Highway from Vancouver to Whistler in British Columbia, Canada

How we offset the remaining emissions

While avoid and reduce measures offer the best way to tackle emissions in the long term, until scalable solutions are deployed, carbon offsetting programs provide an immediate solution to reduce GHG emissions. Shell wants to offer a worldwide portfolio of carbon neutral4 lubricants for a wide variety of applications spanning both personal and commercial use. To support this effort, Shell Helix is working to offset the emissions of every litre of premium lubricant across premium passenger car motor oil.

Shell’s globally diverse, externally-verified, and high-quality, nature-based carbon credits5 will balance the CO2e emissions from the lifecycle of the products including the raw materials, packaging, production, distribution, customer use and product end of life. Each carbon credit represents the avoidance or removal of one tonne of CO2e.

Helping customers manage their sustainability needs

We help customers set and meet CO2e emissions goals by providing premium products and cutting-edge technology to help maximise performance and processes.

Carbon Neutral Oil offers the same, high performance technology but with lower emissions and better fuel economy in any car.*

*Based on CO2 equivalent avoided per 1l fuel saved, not combusted in the engine. Higher fuel economy based on ACEA M111 fuel economy results compared with the industry reference oil.

More information and associated documentation

Our carbon neutrality calculations are performed through an internal carbon footprint model by Shell. an independent, accredited verification body has subjected the model, which is a source of key parameters and methodologies for carbon intensity calculations on a product level, to a critical review against the international standard ISO 14040/44. For the purpose of this task, a review panel was formed involving external independent industry experts.

Legal Disclosure

Find more details on Shell’s Net Carbon Footprint ambition and how we plan to meet it.

Carbon Footprint Disclaimer

Sky Scenarios & CN Combined Disclaimer

Assurance Statements

The associated processes have been independently reviewed by Lloyd’s Register, an external, accredited Verification Body. This includes the following processes:

  • Processes for calculation of the life cycle carbon dioxide emission associated with a product (documentation here),
  • Processes for screening of third-party Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) projects for generation of carbon credits (documentation here)
  • Processes for carbon credit procurement, reconciliation and retirement (documentation here)

In addition, an independent, accredited verification body has subjected the model, which is source of key parameters and methodologies for carbon intensity calculations on a product level, to a critical review against the international standard ISO 14040/44. For the purpose of this task a review panel was formed involving external independent industry experts.

1 Global Lubricants: Market Analysis and Assessment Report 2019, Kline

2 Customers and consumers are increasingly expecting brands to offer sustainable products and services as a table-stake, with 74% globally citing environmental concerns. Consumers want brands to make it easier for them to make sustainable choices (43%), Project Maximus, Shell Insights + Kantar, Nov 2019

3 Kline & Co

4 In the context of this document, terms ‘Net Zero Carbon’ and ‘Carbon Neutral’ are used interchangeably and reflect how Shell Lubricants are branded in different regions. There is no difference in the approach undertaken by Shell to ensure that the CO2e footprint of these products is net zero.

5 Nature-based solutions comprise all activities related to the protection, creation or redevelopment of natural ecosystems, such as forests, grasslands and wetlands, to help absorb greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

6 Based on Sequence VI fuel economy test using SAE 0W-20

Learn more about Shell Helix Hybrid OW20

Learn more about Shell Helix Ultra 0W20 and Shell Helix Ultra 0W40

More in Motorists

New & Improved Shell Fuels

Discover the New & Improved Shell Fuels that clean your engine for better mileage.

Shell Engine Oils and Lubricants

Shell Lubricants brings world-class technological insights to its products, offering you the best formulations for your vehicle.