Our values

How we conduct our business

The Shell General Business Principles are central to how we conduct our business and living by them is crucial to our continued success. We are judged by how we act and how we live up to our core values of honesty, integrity and respect for people. Our Business Principles are based on these. They promote trust, openness, teamwork and professionalism, as well as pride in what we do and how we conduct business.

We were one of the first global companies to state and share our beliefs when we published our General Business Principles in 1976. As part of these principles, we commit to contribute to sustainable development, balancing short and long-term interests and integrating economic, environmental and social considerations into our decision-making.

All Shell employees and contractors, and those at joint ventures we operate, are expected to understand and continually behave in line with our Business Principles. We expect suppliers, and joint ventures that we do not operate, to apply equivalent principles.

Download the Shell General Business Principles

What we expect of our people

Our Code of Conduct supports every employee, contract staff and contractor who works for or on behalf of Shell. It sets out expected behaviours of our employees and how they relate to our Business Principles and Core Values.

Our Ethics and Compliance Manual builds on the Shell General Business Principles and the Shell Code of Conduct to provide practical advice on how to comply with laws and regulations and how to relate to customers, communities and colleagues. The Ethics and Compliance Manuals offers detailed guidance on being compliant, helping our staff do the right thing every day.

Download the Shell Code of Conduct