sustainability
Our commitment
We endorse the principles of sustainability, including the need to balance economic growth, social development and environmental factors in how we operate our business and promote our products. We believe:
- resources are limited and precious, and therefore should be used wisely.
- hydrocarbon feedstocks will continue to be the primary resource for our industry.
- economic parameters will drive market-acceptable solutions.
- technology and product safety will play a key role.
- reducing, recycling and reusing are important aspects of a sustainable business.
Our philosophy of sustainability is turned into action through five key areas.
- Environmental - We strive to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions in all of our operations. An example is energy efficiencies introduced through the Global Energy Management System (GEMS). GEMS efforts in the Chemical and Refining businesses of Exxon Mobil Corporation reduced the emission of about 8 million tons of associated greenhouse gases in 2006. That's roughly equivalent to removing 1.5 million cars from U.S. roads.
- Management systems - Our Operations Integrity Management System (OIMS) communicates expectations, measures progress and helps to ensure results that adhere to our commitment to safety, security, health and the environment.
- Product safety and stewardship - More than 100 scientists perform rigorous product evaluations consistent with a defined process to ensure that our products are safe for their intended purpose. We've spent more than $100 million in the last 10 years on efforts to support product safety.
- Science-based approach - We subscribe to an environmentally conscious lifecycle approach to product development, as outlined in ISO 14000.
- Technology - We focus on manufacturing and product innovation to support the development of products with environmentally preferred characteristics. Examples include downgauged plastics, longer-life tires and low-toxicity fluids.
