Total is dedicated to setting the benchmark not only for business and financial performance, but also for compliance with the most demanding standards of corporate social responsibility. Accordingly, we are continuing to develop a proactive ethical process to support the ability of all internal and external stakeholders to express our values.

Total’s Values
 
Total is home to widely diverse identities and cultures that share our core values:

Sharing our ethical principles

In all host countries, Total makes sure that our employees are familiar with, share and apply ethical principles based on our core values of respect and integrity. The Ethics Committee deploys a methodical approach set out in the Code of Conduct, which is directly inspired by such reference documents as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, the United Nations Global Compact and the fundamental conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO).

- Disseminate
Available in 24 languages, the Code of Conduct continues to be deployed. Underscoring how important the Code is to senior management, Christophe de Margerie wrote a preface to it. Tailored to local conditions or specific businesses, in 2007 the Code was the baseline inspiration for the Integrity Guide and the Fundamental Corporate Responsibility Principles for Purchasing. 
- Educate
The Ethics Committee and Université Total holds dedicated seminars. The Ethics Committee also delivers presentations at management meetings, business seminars and training sessions.
- Advise
The Committee directly handles referrals and provides in cases, mainly dealing with integrity or employee-management issues. A small number of cases reflects the fact that employees usually take up their problems with their supervisor or local human resources manager.
-Assess
We use an assessment method comprising 84 evidence points and developed by GoodCorporation to ensure that the Code of Conduct is being properly applied. Seven units were assessed and two reassessed in 2008. A new process for assessing newly created subsidiaries was tried out in early 2008.

Corporate Social Responsibility
 
As a global leader in the energy and chemicals industries, Total is fully aware of its corporate social responsibility, which is assumed through an assertive sustainable development process, based on constructive dialogue, discussion and direct application of our ethical values.
Proactive policies are in place in the areas of safety, environmental stewardship, preparing for the future of energy, human resources management, and open dialogue with civil society stakeholders.
 
Since a few years, the Group publishes annuallly a special report entitled Sharing our Energies, that details its corporate social responsiblity (CSR) performance and initiatives.