The big, bad oil company
Olivia McDonald // October 5, 2012
Some people might be reading this thinking I’m going to reveal some top-secret, highly confidential, hidden truth to eliminating the effects of global warming or something. The truth is… I’m not. However, what I am going to share may be news to some of you.
Like many people in my generation, I consider myself to be somewhat of an environmentalist. When I was offered my position with Shell Canada (you may be shocked to hear), I was over the moon. I couldn’t wait to try my hand at corporate PR and move to a new and exciting city. I thought I might find it somewhat challenging to work for an industry that has such a damaged reputation– especially in light of recent events with the BP oil spill. Starting off in my role as Communications Work Experience Student I knew that the oil and gas industry was one of the world’s top three least trusted industries, sharing the limelight with the pharmaceutical and financial sectors. It’s always making headlines – usually for environmental disasters and bad press. On the other hand, something I’ve come to learn over the past few weeks is that the media rarely decides to feature the good work that these companies do to try and plan for future sustainability while working to reduce their environmental footprint.
The thing with the oil and gas industry is that, yes, it does harm the environment but, without it, we would revert to the Stone Age. Modern society has become so obsessed and dependent on oil and gas products that it would be near impossible to completely cease its production. Did you know that plastics, nylon, candles, tires, cosmetic, food coloring/additives, golf balls, detergents, crayons, dice, fishing line, dentures, shampoo, trash bags and clothing are all made from oil? Picture a day in your life without washing your hair, playing yahtzee, cleaning your grandmother’s dentures, writing a song on your guitar (yes, guitar strings are made from oil, too). It would be downright impossible! You’d need to take an Advil to relieve the headache it would cause – oh, wait, that’s made from oil, too!
Groups are constantly trying to put an end to oil and gas activities by making false and misleading accusations, which always seem to make the front page of every major paper in the world. The general public just don’t seem to realize the work Shell is doing within its organization and with its local communities to improve on its projects and manufactures.
Shell has implemented many great initiatives to help reduce their ecological impacts and attempt to create positive association and instill trust back into their industry. These projects include (but are not limited to):
A joint venture between Shell and Brazilian biofulels firm, Cosan. Together they take sugar cane and change it into ethanol. The ethanol from the sugar cane produces around 70% less CO2 than petrol. As the sugar cane grows, it absorbs more CO2 than other biofuel crops.
Animation of the process (video).
Quest:
The Quest Carbon Capture and Storage Project will reduce CO2 emissions from Shell’s oil sands operations by more than one million tonnes a year by capturing CO2 from its Scotford upgrader (40km northeast of Edmonton, AB) and permanently storing it deep underground, which is equivalent to taking 175,000 cars off the road!
The Shell True North Forest is a 1,820 acre (740 ha) tract of land in northern Alberta’s boreal zone. Its purchase on behalf of Shell’s oil sands business will conserve area more than twice the size of Vancouver, BC’s Stanley Park.
Classroom Energy Diet Challenge:
A cross-Canada challenge open to students and groups from kindergarten to grade 12, combining energy-based lesson plans with with fun and innovative learning for students. Registration is now open until January 20, 2013.
Now, I may not have convinced you that the oil and gas industry is the most environmentally friendly sector out there, (because, obviously, it’s not) but I hope that after reading this, you are more informed about the kind of work they do. Without oil and gas, our lives would be much different. By 2050, the global population is expected to reach nine billion people, meaning a drastic increase in the demand for energy. Help do your part and support organizations committed to positive change.
For a list of more unusual things made from oil click here.
