Shell

In the wake of increasing public conviction that climate change needs to be addressed, Shell is trying to remodel its image in order to appeal to the environmental consciousness of potential customers. Advertising in newspapers and magazines in April and May 2007, the company showed a refinery emitting flowers from its chimneys with claims that it uses its “waste CO2 to grow flowers and [its] waste sulphur to make concrete”. However, in reality, less than 0.5 percent of Shell’s total CO2 emissions are piped into Dutch greenhouses to grow flowers. Furthermore, most of Shell’s sulphur waste is used for ship fuel and is finally released in the air. Sea ships are one of the biggest sources of sulphur dioxide pollution.

Adverts contain poetic wording; “Don’t throw anything away, there is no away”, somehow implying that the oil company operates in line with such sentiment. Yet worldwide, people are suffering from the effects of pollution emitted by Shell’s refineries, for example in Nigeria, South Africa, the US and the Philippines. In Nigeria, Shell illegally flares gas, emitting sulphur which causes acid rain, devastates the environment and corrodes people’s homes. This flaring in Nigeria causes 60 times more greenhouse gas emissions than the carbon dioxide that is reused by Dutch farmers to grow flowers.

If these attempts, to bloom-up this oil giant’s operations and cover up a smoky record, don’t green-wash with you, then cast your vote for Shell today!

Images and background information

The withdrawn Shell advertisement

Full text of a complaint against this greenwash advertising by FoEE in Belgium (in English).

Latest available figures – from Shell’s Sustainability Report 2006.

Reaction

Shell reacts to nomination for Worst EU Greenwash Award 2007, 14 November 2007.

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