My note to 3Mers about our PFAS exit

3Mers,

We announced today that we will exit per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) manufacturing and work to discontinue the use of PFAS across our product portfolio by the end of 2025.

We plan to take the following actions:

• Exit all PFAS manufacturing by the end of 2025: 3M will discontinue manufacturing all fluoropolymers, fluorinated fluids, and PFAS-based additive products. We will help facilitate an orderly transition for customers. 3M intends to fulfill current contractual obligations during the transition period.
• Work to discontinue use of PFAS across our product portfolio by the end of 2025: We have already reduced our use of PFAS over the past three years through ongoing research and development, and will continue to innovate new solutions for customers.

Our decision is based on an evolving external landscape:

• Regulatory: The European Union has indicated plans to potentially restrict all PFAS by 2025. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has indicated plans to place limits on PFAS in drinking water at or near current detection limits. Regulatory agencies elsewhere, including in Canada, Australia, and Asia, are increasingly active on this topic.
• Marketplace: Customers and consumers are increasingly interested in alternatives to PFAS.
• Investors: The challenges of managing businesses and operations with products based on PFAS, have increasingly weighed on our business results in recent years.

Our decision is also rooted in what makes 3M unique: our ability to continually adapt and focus our innovation to solve our customer’s greatest challenges. This is about the future of 3M. It is consistent with who we are and how we continually adapt to changing business conditions, shifting our focus to new and better opportunities that continue to fuel our growth. Acting now allows us to manage an orderly transition for our customers and employees.

To be clear: PFAS continue to be essential for modern life and can be safely made and used. However, a strength of 3M has always been our ability to apply our science to improve lives, create value for our stakeholders, and build leading businesses. That is what today’s announcement is about.

When we exited the printing and medical imaging businesses in the 1990s, our focus turned to developing film solutions for emerging applications of Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs). This shift was the foundation for what is today a leading portfolio of material science solutions well positioned for consumer electronics and automotive electrification. Over the past 15 years, we reshaped our Health Care business by divesting our Pharmaceutical, Drug Delivery, and Food Safety businesses, while pivoting to biopharma filtration, computer-aided physician documentation, and advanced wound care. These portfolio actions, combined with investments in innovation, have helped build a world-class health care technology business.

Our approach to portfolio management and innovation have continuously positioned us to build what is next for our customers. That will also be the case here, as we increase our focus on the future of electronics, safety, automotive and mobility, digitization, home improvement, health care, and sustainability, and beyond.

I understand this change will have an impact across our company, particularly for 3Mers who support these areas of our business. This transition will take time and we are at the beginning of a years-long journey. We will remain focused on ensuring that we deliver for our customers and treat our colleagues fairly and with respect. We will communicate regularly as the transition progresses.

It is an important time for 3M. We are simplifying our business, innovating for long-term growth, and creating two world-class companies through our planned spin-off of our Health Care business. I appreciate your continued focus and commitment to applying science to help improve lives around the world.