Environmental management system

Report Jan. 5, 2021

Overview

Access to reliable and affordable energy is essential to economic growth and improved standards of living. ExxonMobil strives to demonstrate leadership in environmental management. We recognize the environmental risks associated with our industry and evaluate potential and actual risks at each stage of a project to mitigate environmental impacts. We comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations, and apply appropriate standards where they do not exist. 

Our Operations Integrity Management System (OIMS) establishes a set of expectations that applies across all our operations to address risks inherent to our business, including environmental risks. The OIMS framework contains 11 elements related to leadership, operations and maintenance, community relations, emergency response, incident investigation, and information and documentation, among others. OIMS provides protocols and guidance for mitigating risk in a variety of scenarios. In conjunction with our Corporate Environment Policy, OIMS outlines rigorous operating practices and facility design requirements to reduce environmental impacts and prevent incidents. 

We operate according to a guiding principle of Protect Tomorrow. Today. that promotes a company culture mindful of the planet and the need to protect it for future generations. Implemented through OIMS, Protect Tomorrow. Today. provides a set of environmental expectations and globally accepted best practices that are part of our day-to-day operations around the world. It also creates a platform for environmental leadership and continuous improvement in environmental performance.

2019 performance and initiatives

Guided by our Protect Tomorrow. Today. approach, we manage our operations in a manner that maintains high standards of environmental performance. OIMS conforms to recognized environmental standards, including International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 and American Chemistry Council Responsible Care® requirements. In addition to using the OIMS framework, ExxonMobil Fuels & Lubricants Company is ISO 14001-certified at its global network of more than 20 lubricant plants. The ISO management system helps us further manage potential environmental impacts, fulfill compliance obligations and identify opportunities for improvement.

Successful project execution requires a thorough understanding of the environmental and socioeconomic characteristics of areas where we operate. We typically perform an Environmental, Socioeconomic and Health Impact Assessment for new upstream projects. We use our Environmental Aspects Guide to identify and evaluate various potential environmental and socioeconomic risks and impacts throughout the life of an asset or project. Based on the results, we develop management plans to avoid adverse environmental and socioeconomic impacts, reduce the impacts to acceptable levels or remedy the impacts. We integrate stakeholder feedback as part of our assessments.

Environmental management process

Image Environmental management process
The environmental management process helps ExxonMobil understand potential impacts from our operations.

Related content

Managing spills

Managing spills

ExxonMobil is committed to the prevention and elimination of spills from our operations. We seek to implement industry best practices to continually reduce the number of spills. We design and operate facilities with the objective of preventing unplanned releases from entering the environment and causing adverse effects.

Environment Report Dec. 15, 2022