Working with suppliers
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Our Supplier and Contractor Expectations call for the operations and business practices of our suppliers to be conducted in a manner consistent with the International Labour Organization 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (ILO Declaration) and the goals of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). They also communicate our expectation that our suppliers comply with all local laws and regulations. To remain in good standing, our suppliers are expected to meet our stringent compliance, anti-corruption, conflict of interest, safety, and other guidelines.
Our approach
We work to promote inclusive sourcing open to all.
We are committed to respecting human rights and working to reduce impacts to the environment.
We seek to work with qualified suppliers that share our commitment.
Supplier stewardship
We consider sustainability-related elements in our procurement processes. For example, we seek opportunities to support responsible sourcing, including identification of potential human rights impacts within procurement category families.
Potential suppliers are reviewed on their operational, technical, and financial performance. When considering a supplier, we also perform due diligence on compliance. We use third-party sources to screen potential suppliers across compliance areas including sanctions, anti-corruption, and human trafficking.
In our bid process, we communicate our expectations that suppliers:
- Comply with all applicable laws prohibiting the utilization of forced or compulsory labor.
- Provide its employees with working conditions, including payment of wages and benefits, that comply with all applicable laws.
- Ensure that its employees meet the legal employment age requirements in the country of employment.
Our standard terms and conditions used by our procurement team oblige suppliers to:
- Comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including those related to employment, safety, security, health, and the environment.
- Impose similar terms and conditions on their subcontractors.
- Permit audits and allow access to relevant sites, documents, and personnel.
- Report utilization of diverse and small businesses as appropriate.
Annually, we remind suppliers of our expectations in a year-end letter, available in dozens of languages and customized for specific regions. This letter reinforces our expectations that suppliers conduct business in compliance with our Standards of Business Conduct and applicable laws, rules, and regulations. It also provides contact information for any questions or concerns.
We audit a select number of suppliers each year for contract compliance on aspects including pricing, safety, drug and alcohol policy, invoicing, and travel expenses. Contracts may be terminated if suppliers do not meet our expectations.
We define our suppliers according to the size and frequency of our purchases and review performance of our top-tier suppliers using criteria aligned with our 14 sustainability focus areas in an effort to identify risks and opportunities, and promote innovation.
Environmental performance
We aim to work with innovative suppliers to reduce environmental impacts in our supply chain. We also engage with suppliers to share our expectations.
Our cost models and sourcing strategies include environmental considerations like reducing energy use and incorporating recycled content into packaging materials. Sustainability questions are part of our sourcing platform and are considered in evaluating bids and selecting suppliers.
Whether through collaboration with our transport and logistics suppliers or through our focus on efficiently running our warehouses, our approach continues to tackle everyday challenges in innovative and cost-effective ways.
Human rights due diligence
We are committed to respecting human rights and expect our suppliers to do the same. Through our procurement processes and systems, we assess direct suppliers for potential human rights risks, with a focus on workers’ rights, including safe and healthy working conditions, as well as elimination of forced labor, child labor, and discrimination.
Our Statement on Labor and the Workplace articulates our support of the principles of the International Labour Organization (ILO) 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles on Rights at Work. This includes eliminating child labor, forced labor, and workplace discrimination, the recognition of the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining, and a safe and healthy workplace.
The standard terms and conditions used by our global procurement organization require adherence to all applicable laws and regulations. Requests for quotes from our procurement staff typically include clauses regarding the prohibition of forced or compulsory labor and payment of wages and benefits in accordance with local laws. Participants in bidding activities must comply with these requirements.
Audits further enhance transparency and compliance with our expectations in our supply chain. Our standard contracts typically require suppliers and their subcontractors to allow us to access all offices and work sites and to interview personnel. We select a percentage of suppliers annually for such audits, which include a compliance review on contract provisions.
When it comes to the issue of human trafficking, we proactively communicate our expectations to suppliers and manage risks through our Standards of Business Conduct, our Statement on Labor and the Workplace, and our due diligence processes. We also work to reduce the conditions that can lead to human trafficking by promoting economic growth and personal prosperity.
Our due diligence process for identifying and assessing human rights risks focuses on the supplier, the commodity, and the location. Additional due diligence is done for goods and services involving low-skilled labor in countries ranked below Tier 1 in the U.S. Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report. If higher risk is identified, potential suppliers complete a questionnaire to assess their policies and practice human rights risks in the supply chain is available to procurement professionals who conduct supply chain due diligence.
spotlight
Recognizing excellence in our suppliers
Lexi Southall, President - Brieser Construction
Josh Sanford, Engineering Manager - ExxonMobil
Our Supplier Excellence program recognizes suppliers that demonstrate superior performance consistent with our expectations and values. Local awards recognize suppliers working at a specific site, such as Brieser Construction, a woman-owned supplier near the Joliet refinery in Channahon, Illinois. For more than 40 years, Brieser has been the site’s primary civil contractor. In 2023, Brieser was recognized for reliably and consistently meeting their commitments on time – and, more importantly, safely. In fact, Brieser had zero recordable safety incidents at the refinery in more than a decade.
Supplier diversity
We promote awareness of inclusive sourcing options with local, diverse, and small suppliers to increase competition and innovation while striving to make a positive impact on communities. Where there is lack of such suppliers, we work to build capabilities with current and potential suppliers.
We aim to build mutually beneficial relationships that contribute to the growth of our diverse supplier base through outreach, business development, and training programs. In 2023, we contributed to grants for education and growth of diverse owned businesses in the United States working with organizations such as the American Petroleum Institute, National Minority Supplier Development Council, and Women’s Business Enterprise National Council.
We buy goods and services from local suppliers and build their capabilities through local programs. This helps build long-term local economic capacity, strengthens community relationships, and supports the objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Inclusive sourcing open to all brings a competitive edge through new perspectives, ideas, and practices that help our businesses grow. For example, when a radio system at one of our refineries was reaching its standard end of life, replacing it was an expensive proposition. It was a registered diverse supplier that brought us an innovative and cost-effective solution to refurbish the radio batteries on a rolling basis. As a result, we can safely and reliably use the system for years to come.
We encourage local, diverse, and small businesses to register in the supplier diversity database, SupplierOne, to gain visibility with procurement professionals. We also work with organizations to help us identify and develop relationships with certified diverse suppliers globally. Diverse databases may be considered in identifying potential suppliers, in addition to other options.
In 2024, we had more than $6.8 billion in annual spend with diverse suppliers in the United States.1
Our supplier diversity efforts also continue around the world, in accordance with applicable laws. This includes spend with businesses owned by Indigenous Peoples in Canada and women in countries outside of the United States.
Publications
Explore more
Expanding the plastics life cycle
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• April 30, 2025Integrating sustainability into what we do
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• April 30, 2025Enhancing process safety
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• April 30, 2025Improving air quality
2 min read
• April 30, 2025Sustainability Report Executive Summary
5 min read
• April 30, 2025Minimizing operational waste
4 min read
• April 30, 2025
FOOTNOTES:
- Includes direct ExxonMobil spending on Tier 1 suppliers and a select group of Tier 2 suppliers which includes small business owned, veteran business owned, and other classifications informed by industry reporting guidance. At all times decisions are made based on the best supplier for the need. 2024 data from Pioneer operations not available at time of publication.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT RELEVANT TO FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE “SAFE HARBOR” PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995 AND OTHER IMPORTANT LEGAL DISCLAIMERS
Images or statements of future ambitions, aims, aspirations, plans, goals, events, projects, projections, opportunities, expectations, performance, or conditions in the publications, including plans to reduce, abate, avoid or enable avoidance of emissions or reduce emissions intensity, sensitivity analyses, expectations, estimates, the development of future technologies, business plans, and sustainability efforts are dependent on future market factors, such as customer demand, continued technological progress, stable policy support and timely rule-making or continuation of government incentives and funding, and represent forward-looking statements. Similarly, emission-reduction roadmaps to drive toward net zero and similar roadmaps for emerging technologies and markets, and water management roadmaps to reduce freshwater intake and/or manage disposal, are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future corporate, market or industry performance or outcomes for ExxonMobil or society and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control or are even unknown.
Actual future results, including the achievement of ambitions to reach Scope 1 and 2 net zero from operated assets by 2050, to reach Scope 1 and 2 net zero in heritage Permian Basin unconventional operated assets by 2030, and in Pioneer Permian assets by 2035, to eliminate routine flaring in-line with World Bank Zero Routine Flaring, to reach near zero methane emissions from operated assets and other methane initiatives to meet ExxonMobil’s greenhouse gas emission reduction plans and goals, divestment and start-up plans, and associated project plans as well as technology advances, including in the timing and outcome of projects to capture, transport and store CO2, produce hydrogen and ammonia, produce lower-emission fuels, produce ProxximaTM systems, produce carbon materials, produce lithium, and use plastic waste as feedstock for advanced recycling; future debt levels and credit ratings; business and project plans, timing, costs, capacities and profitability; resource recoveries and production rates; planned Denbury and Pioneer integrated benefits; obtain data on detection, measurement and quantification of emissions including reporting of that data or updates to previous estimates and progress in sustainability focus areas could vary depending on a number of factors, including global or regional changes in oil, gas, petrochemicals, or feedstock prices, differentials, seasonal fluctuations, or other market or economic conditions affecting the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries and the demand for our products; new market products and services; future cash flows; our ability to execute operational objectives on a timely and successful basis; the ability to realize efficiencies within and across our business lines; new or changing government policies for lower carbon and new market investment opportunities, or policies limiting the attractiveness of investments such as European taxes on energy and unequal support for different methods of carbon capture; developments or changes in local, national, or international treaties, laws, regulations, taxes, trade sanctions, trade tariffs, and incentives affecting our business, including those related to greenhouse gas emissions, plastics, carbon storage and carbon costs; timely granting of governmental permits and certifications; uncertain impacts of deregulation on the legal and regulatory environment; evolving reporting standards for these topics and evolving measurement standards for reported data; trade patterns and the development and enforcement of local, national and regional mandates; unforeseen technical or operational difficulties; the outcome of research efforts and future technology developments, including the ability to scale projects and technologies such as electrification of operations, advanced recycling, carbon capture and storage, hydrogen and ammonia production, ProxximaTM systems, carbon materials or direct lithium extraction on a commercially competitive basis; the development and competitiveness of alternative energy and emission reduction technologies; unforeseen technical or operating difficulties, including the need for unplanned maintenance; availability of feedstocks for lower-emission fuels, hydrogen, or advanced recycling; changes in the relative energy mix across activities and geographies; the actions of co-venturers competitors; changes in regional and global economic growth rates and consumer preferences including willingness and ability to pay for reduced emissions products; actions taken by governments and consumers resulting from a pandemic; changes in population growth, economic development or migration patterns; timely completion of construction projects; war, civil unrest, attacks against the Company or industry, and other political or security disturbances, including disruption of land or sea transportation routes; decoupling of economies, realignment of global trade and supply chain networks, and disruptions in military alliances; and other factors discussed here and in Item 1A. Risk Factors of our Annual Report on Form 10-K and under the heading “Factors affecting future results” available under the “Earnings” tab through the “Investors” page of our website at www.exxonmobil.com. The Advancing Climate Solutions Report includes 2024 greenhouse gas emissions performance data as of March 1, 2025, and Scope 3 Category 11 estimates for full year 2024 as of February 19, 2025. The greenhouse gas intensity and greenhouse gas emission estimates include Scope 2 market-based emissions. The Sustainability Report, the Advancing Climate Solutions Report, and corresponding Executive Summaries were issued on April 30, 2025. The content and data referenced in these publications focus primarily on our operations from Jan. 1, 2024 – Dec. 31, 2024, unless otherwise indicated. Tables on our “Metrics and data” page were updated to reflect full year 2024 data. Information regarding some known events or activities in 2025 and historical initiatives from prior years are also included. No party should place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the dates of these publications. All forward-looking statements are based on management’s knowledge and reasonable expectations at the time of publication. ExxonMobil assumes no duty to update these statements or materials as of any future date, and neither future distribution of this material nor the continued availability of this material in archive form on our website should be deemed to constitute an update or re-affirmation of these figures or statements as of any future date. Any future update will be provided only through a public disclosure indicating that fact.
See “ABOUT THE ADVANCING CLIMATE SOLUTIONS AND SUSTAINABILITY REPORTS” at the end of this document for additional information on these reports and the use of non-GAAP and other financial measures.
ABOUT THE ADVANCING CLIMATE SOLUTIONS AND SUSTAINABILITY REPORTS
The Advancing Climate Solutions Report contains terms used by the TCFD, as well as information about how the disclosures in this report are consistent with the recommendations of the TCFD. In doing so, ExxonMobil is not obligating itself to use any terms in the way defined by the TCFD or any other party, nor is it obligating itself to comply with any specific recommendation of the TCFD or to provide any specific disclosure. For example, with respect to the term “material,” individual companies are best suited to determine what information is material, under the long-standing U.S. Supreme Court definition, and whether to include this information in U.S. Securities and Exchange Act filings. In addition, the ISSB is evaluating standards that provide their interpretation of TCFD which may or may not be consistent with the current TCFD recommendations. The Sustainability Report and Advancing Climate Solutions Report are each a voluntary disclosure and are not designed to fulfill any U.S., foreign, or third-party required reporting framework.
Forward-looking and other statements regarding environmental and other sustainability efforts and aspirations are not intended to communicate any material investment information under the laws of the United States or represent that these are required disclosures. These publications are not intended to imply that ExxonMobil has access to any significant non-public insights on future events that the reader could not independently research. In addition, historical, current, and forward-looking environmental and other sustainability-related statements may be based on standards for measuring progress that are still developing, internal controls and processes that continue to evolve, and assumptions that are subject to change in the future, including future laws and rulemaking. Forward-looking and other statements regarding environmental and other sustainability efforts and aspirations are for informational purposes only and are not intended as an advertisement for ExxonMobil’s equity, debt, businesses, products, or services and the reader is specifically notified that any investor-requested disclosure or future required disclosure is not and should not be construed as an inducement for the reader to purchase any product or services. The statements and analysis in these publications represent a good faith effort by the Company to address these investor requests despite significant unknown variables and, at times, inconsistent market data, government policy signals, and calculation, methodologies, or reporting standards.
Actions needed to advance ExxonMobil’s 2030 greenhouse gas emission-reductions plans are incorporated into its medium-term business plans, which are updated annually. The reference case for planning beyond 2030 is based on the Company’s Global Outlook research and publication. The Global Outlook is reflective of the existing global policy environment and an assumption of increasing policy stringency and technology improvement to 2050. However, the Global Outlook does not attempt to project the degree of required future policy and technology advancement and deployment for the world, or ExxonMobil, to meet net zero by 2050. As future policies and technology advancements emerge, they will be incorporated into the GIobal Outlook, and the Company’s business plans will be updated as appropriate. References to projects or opportunities may not reflect investment decisions made by the corporation or its affiliates. Individual projects or opportunities may advance based on a number of factors, including availability of stable and supportive policy, permitting, technological advancement for cost-effective abatement, insights from the Company planning process, and alignment with our partners and other stakeholders. Capital investment guidance in lower-emission and other new investments is based on our corporate plan; however, actual investment levels will be subject to the availability of the opportunity set, stable public policy support, other factors, and focused on returns.
Energy demand modeling aims to replicate system dynamics of the global energy system, requiring simplifications. The reference to any scenario or any pathway for an energy transition, including any potential net-zero scenario, does not imply ExxonMobil views any particular scenario as likely to occur. In addition, energy demand scenarios require assumptions on a variety of parameters. As such, the outcome of any given scenario using an energy demand model comes with a high degree of uncertainty. For example, the IEA describes its NZE scenario as extremely challenging, requiring unprecedented innovation, unprecedented international cooperation, and sustained support and participation from consumers, with steeper reductions required each year since the scenario’s initial release. Third-party scenarios discussed in these reports reflect the modeling assumptions and outputs of their respective authors, not ExxonMobil, and their use or inclusion herein is not an endorsement by ExxonMobil of their underlying assumptions, likelihood, or probability. Investment decisions are made on the basis of ExxonMobil’s separate planning process but may be secondarily tested for robustness or resiliency against different assumptions, including against various scenarios. These reports contain information from third parties. ExxonMobil makes no representation or warranty as to the third-party information. Where necessary, ExxonMobil received permission to cite third-party sources, but the information and data remain under the control and direction of the third parties. ExxonMobil has also provided links in this report to third-party websites for ease of reference. ExxonMobil’s use of the third-party content is not an endorsement or adoption of such information.
ExxonMobil reported emissions, including reductions and avoidance performance data, are based on a combination of measured and estimated data. We assess our performance to support continuous improvement throughout the organization using our Environmental Performance Indicator (EPI) manual. The reporting guidelines and indicators in the Ipieca, the American Petroleum Institute (API), the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers Sustainability Reporting Guidance for the Oil and Gas Industry (4th edition, 2020, revised February 2023) and key chapters of the GHG Protocol inform the EPI and the selection of the data reported. Emissions reported are estimates only, and performance data depends on variations in processes and operations, the availability of sufficient data, the quality of those data and methodology used for measurement and estimation. Emissions data is subject to change as methods, data quality, and technology improvements occur, and changes to performance data may be updated. Emissions, reductions, abatements and enabled avoidance estimates for non-ExxonMobil operated facilities are included in the equity data and similarly may be updated as changes in the performance data are reported. ExxonMobil’s plans to reduce emissions are good-faith efforts based on current relevant data and methodology, which could be changed or refined. ExxonMobil works to continuously improve its approach to estimate, detect, measure, and address emissions. ExxonMobil actively engages with industry, including API and Ipieca, to improve emission factors and methodologies, including measurements and estimates.
Any reference to ExxonMobil’s support of, work with, or collaboration with a third-party organization within these publications do not constitute or imply an endorsement by ExxonMobil of any or all of the positions or activities of such organization. ExxonMobil participates, along with other companies, institutes, universities and other organizations, in various initiatives, campaigns, projects, groups, trade organizations, and other collaborations among industry and through organizations like the United Nations that express various ambitions, aspirations and goals related to climate change, emissions, sustainability, and the energy transition. ExxonMobil’s participation or membership in such collaborations is not a promise or guarantee that ExxonMobil’s individual ambitions, future performance or policies will align with the collective ambitions of the organizations or the individual ambitions of other participants, all of which are subject to a variety of uncertainties and other factors, many of which may be beyond ExxonMobil’s control, including government regulation, availability and cost-effectiveness of technologies, and market forces and other risks and uncertainties. Such third parties’ statements of collaborative or individual ambitions and goals frequently diverge from ExxonMobil’s own ambitions, plans, goals, and commitments. ExxonMobil will continue to make independent decisions regarding the operation of its business, including its climate-related and sustainability-related ambitions, plans, goals, commitments, and investments. ExxonMobil’s future ambitions, goals and commitments reflect ExxonMobil’s current plans, and ExxonMobil may unilaterally change them for various reasons, including adoption of new reporting standards or practices, market conditions; changes in its portfolio; and financial, operational, regulatory, reputational, legal and other factors.
References to “resources,” “resource base,” “recoverable resources” and similar terms refer to the total remaining estimated quantities of oil and natural gas that are expected to be ultimately recoverable. The resource base includes quantities of oil and natural gas classified as proved reserves, as well as quantities that are not yet classified as proved reserves, but that are expected to be ultimately recoverable. The term “resource base” is not intended to correspond to SEC definitions such as “probable” or “possible” reserves. For additional information, see the “Frequently Used Terms” on the Investors page of the Company’s website at www.exxonmobil.com under the header “Modeling Toolkit.” References to “oil” and “gas” include crude, natural gas liquids, bitumen, synthetic oil, and natural gas. The term “project” as used in these publications can refer to a variety of different activities and does not necessarily have the same meaning as in any government payment transparency reports.
Exxon Mobil Corporation has numerous affiliates, many with names that include ExxonMobil, Exxon, Mobil, Esso, and XTO. For convenience and simplicity, those terms and terms such as “Corporation,” “company,” “our,” “we,” and “its” are sometimes used as abbreviated references to one or more specific affiliates or affiliate groups. Abbreviated references describing global or regional operational organizations, and global or regional business lines are also sometimes used for convenience and simplicity. Nothing contained herein is intended to override the corporate separateness of affiliated companies. Exxon Mobil Corporation’s goals do not guarantee any action or future performance by its affiliates or Exxon Mobil Corporation’s responsibility for those affiliates’ actions and future performance, each affiliate of which manages its own affairs. For convenience and simplicity, words like venture, joint venture, partnership, co-venturer and partner are used to indicate business relationships involving common activities and interests, and those words may not indicate precise legal relationships. These publications cover Exxon Mobil Corporation’s owned and operated businesses and do not address the performance or operations of our suppliers, contractors or partners unless otherwise noted. In the case of certain joint ventures for which ExxonMobil is the operator, we often exercise influence but not control. Thus, the governance, processes, management and strategy of these joint ventures may differ from those in these reports. At the time of publication, ExxonMobil has completed the acquisitions of Denbury Inc. and Pioneer Natural Resources Company. These reports and the data therein do not speak of these companies’ pre-acquisition governance, risk management, strategy approaches, or emissions or sustainability performance unless specifically referenced.
These reports or any material therein are not to be used or reproduced without the permission of Exxon Mobil Corporation. All rights reserved.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FOR NON-GAAP AND OTHER MEASURES
The Positioned for Growth in a Lower-Emission Future section of the Advancing Climate Solutions Report mentions modeled operating cash flow in comparing different businesses over time in a future scenario. Historic operating cash flow is defined as net income, plus depreciation, depletion and amortization for consolidated and equity companies, plus noncash adjustments related to asset retirement obligations plus proceeds from asset sales. The Company’s long-term portfolio modeling estimates operating cash flow as revenue or margins less cash expenses, taxes and abandonment expenditures plus proceeds from asset sales before portfolio capital expenditures. The Company believes this measure can be helpful in assessing the resiliency of the business to generate cash from different potential future markets. The performance data presented in the Advancing Climate Solutions Report and Sustainability Report, including on emissions, is not financial data and is not GAAP data.