Sustainability is a core commitment of 3M, and we recognise and consistently seek opportunities to do more. We understand that our impact, as we improve our business, our planet, and every life can be far greater when we collaborate with our customers, communities, and governments.
We aim to support the growth of communities.
We have set clear commitments and an ambitious, long-term strategy that will leverage our passion for science.
Our intent is to use a science-based approach to tackle the challenges that are most material to 3M and critical to our planet and the people living on it.
Building on our global capabilities and diverse technologies, we are focusing on three priority areas:
All while keeping our vision in mind...3M Technology Advancing Every Company, 3M Products Enhancing Every Home, 3M Innovation Improving Every Life.
The only thing we like better than a great idea is great results. When it comes to sustainability, excellence lies in the evidence. From cutting greenhouse gas reductions by 71.1% to using less water and releasing fewer pollutants, our sustainability efforts are paying off.
At 3M we are a purpose-driven enterprise. We know that we can grow our business while collaborating to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges. And we know that innovation isn’t innovation without Sustainability.
We are committed to being leaders in sustainability. We have reduced our greenhouse gas emissions by 71.1% over the last two decades and moved 42.9% of our manufacturing sites to zero waste. Our global headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota — home to 30 research labs and buildings — is fully powered by renewable electricity.
In 2020, 3M products helped our customers avoid 16.6 M tons of emissions, the equivalent of taking 3.6 million cars off the road. 3M is committing to become carbon neutral across our global operations.
We expect to further reduce carbon emissions, aiming for a 50% reduction by 2030, 80% reduction by 2040, and 100% carbon neutral by 2050. These reductions will be driven by innovation that will help accelerate improvements that our world needs to address climate challenges.
Additionally, we expect to achieve a 25% reduction in water use by 2030. Saving 2.50B gallons of water annually. We will install advanced filtration technology by the end of 2023 at 3M’s largest water-using sites and have this technology fully operational by 2024, as we move to return even higher quality water to the environment after its use in our facilities.
These initiatives will help us build a stronger company and a more sustainable world. Over the next 20 years, 3M will invest approximately $1 billion to deliver on our new environmental goals and support continuous improvement of our manufacturing operations.
Science fuels our sustainability and societal goals. As CEO, I commit 3M’s continued support for the United Nations Global Compact, and our ongoing resolve to apply science to improve our lives.
Michael F. Roman – 3M Chairman of the Board and CEO.
