Chemicals

Shell is providing chemicals made from oil and gas that help leading consumer goods manufacturers make everyday products that save energy yet still meet demanding performance requirements. For example, Shell’s scientists have developed critical ingredients for washing powders and liquids that work at lower water temperatures, cutting the energy used by washing machines by more than half. We’ve also helped develop more concentrated laundry detergents significantly reducing packaging, transport costs and energy use still further.

These specialised ingredients – alcohols and chemicals that help dirt dissolve more easily in water during washes – are all made from crude oil. Manufacturers are increasingly using similar ingredients made from plants, like palm oil. So, wouldn’t it be better still for the environment to switch to these instead? Not necessarily. Both require a similar amount of processing to produce. Ingredients made from crude oil can be better manipulated at the molecular level to deliver the specific performance qualities needed and don’t add further pressure on agricultural land use. And both biodegrade equally well.