3M’s One Big Idea

The COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly transforming how people live, work and communicate around the world. Years’ worth of changes are unfolding in a matter of months, and the expectations of business are rising just as fast. 3M is committed to innovating differently, moving faster than ever and finding new ways to reach for our vision of improving every life.

When the pandemic broke out we doubled our production of respirators almost overnight to protect frontline healthcare workers, and we’re on pace to distribute 2 billion globally by the end of 2020. We quickly adapted our cleaning and disinfecting product lines to serve new customers like body shops and shared mobility companies. At the same time, 3M is helping economies re-open more effectively by supplying personal protective equipment to areas with expanding need such as industrial manufacturing, dentistry and elective medical procedures. Our scientists are expanding the type of safe face coverings available to people, in addition to our work making more respirators than ever before.

Existing global megatrends have only grown over the past few months. For example, we live in a digital-first world, which 3M enables through cooling solutions for data centers and products that support the manufacture of semiconductor chips. We spend more time at home than ever before, and 3M’s robust do-it-yourself and indoor air quality offerings – such as Filtrete filters – keep families healthier and more productive. Addressing environmental challenges is more critical, and last year alone 3M innovation helped customers avoid 17 million metric tons of emissions. Our focus on automotive electrification is increasing in relevance as our light-weighting and display solutions help the industry move toward more autonomous and fuel-efficient vehicles.

Even the way we innovate has to evolve, quickly. The pandemic has emphasized the need for other kinds of innovative partnerships. Our collaborations with Ford and Cummins have accelerated PPE production, and we’re now working with MIT on a new, faster COVID-19 test that can be mass-produced.

Most successful endeavors – whether an organization or a social movement – are fueled by one big idea. For 3M it’s applying our science to improve lives, and we’re finding new and better ways to do that every day. COVID-19 has reinforced the importance of science and innovation in solving the world’s toughest challenges. Our stakeholders are counting on us to help lead the way to a better future, and 3M will continue to deliver.