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Abstract from author
The article discusses the experiences of the petrochemical company Shell Group with sustainability reporting. One publicly stated objective of “The Shell Report” is that eventually it aims to evolve into the Shell annual report including the full financial report, as well as reports on the environmental and social performance of the Shell Group, hopefully in a fully integrated manner. Shell has had the core values of honesty, integrity, and respect for people at the heart of its approach to business for more than a hundred years. They are the bedrock on which its business principles are based. After the external crises that hit Shell in the mid-1990s, intensive stakeholder contacts and internal deliberations followed. At the end of that a decision was taken to incorporate two new commitments into the business principles: a commitment to contribute to sustainable development and a commitment to respect fundamental human rights. The article author would like to highlight two additional issues: the need for standards on sustainability reporting, and the question of which parties can verify sustainability reports. Regarding the first issue, the necessity is clear and several organizations are working to develop standards..

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