Stepping up for Sustainability

This year, 3M stepped up our presence at Climate Week – a gathering of leaders who share great aspirations for improving the health of our planet.

The climate and environmental challenges we face may seem daunting, but they are not insurmountable. We can and will solve them, as we’ve done before. I remember when I was growing up, we were sure that acid rain and the ozone hole were going to be our ruin. Partnerships between governments, companies and NGO’s – coupled with advancements in science and technology – drove the changes that have either eliminated these problems or resulted in vast improvements. We can do this again for our climate.

As CEO of a science company, I believe that 3M has a unique opportunity to lead the way toward a more sustainable future. I also believe we have a responsibility to act on behalf of and for each of our stakeholders. This includes our customers, investors, employees, business partners and communities.

3M is a long-time leader in sustainability. We started our ground-breaking Pollution Prevention Pays program back in 1975 – a decade before the UN even defined the term “sustainable development” – and it has prevented 2 million tons of pollution. We’ve since built on our leadership by continuing to reduce our own footprint; over the last couple decades, for example, we’ve reduced our greenhouse gas emissions by 70 percent, even while doubling our revenue.

At the same time, we’ve intensified our focus on creating a wide range of solutions that help our customers be more sustainable – from glass bubbles that lightweight vehicles, to window films that make homes and businesses more efficient. I’m pleased that last year alone, 3M technologies helped our customers avoid 15 million tons of emissions, which is the equivalent of taking 3 million cars off the road.

We are proud of our record of environmental stewardship, but we’re also humble about it. We know we have the potential to be even better and do even more. That is why last year, we came together to deepen our commitment to sustainability. Looking ahead, we’ve established three priority areas:

• Science for circular: design solutions that do more with less material.
• Science for climate: innovate to accelerate climate solutions, and improve our footprint.
• Science for community: create a more positive world through science, and inspire people to join us.

In December, we rolled out our first big initiative as part of this new framework. Starting in 2019, we are formally embedding sustainability into every 3M product, meaning it must help solve an environmental or social challenge. Several new products – from our Thinsulate insulation and Scotch-Brite sponges made with 100% recycled content, to our roofing granules that absorb smog pollution – reflect this value.

A few months later, we committed to move our entire global operations – across 70 countries – to renewable energy. As of March, our headquarters in Minnesota – which is home to 12,000 3Mers – is being fully powered by renewable energy.

This week, we are announced another action to accelerate our leadership.

We have formed a partnership with Clean Air Asia, an international NGO that seeks to improve air quality and create healthier, more livable cities. Air pollution is a problem everywhere, but it’s particularly harmful in Asia, which is home to the world’s 50 most-polluted cities. Through this collaboration, we will help develop science-based air quality solutions for at-risk cities in India and the Philippines.

We’re also continuing to advance the cause of science itself. Science matters immensely – it’s key to both understanding the sustainability challenges we face, and also to solving those challenges. Yet far too many people don’t value science or appreciate how it impacts their lives.

We recently appointed one of our top engineers, Dr. Jayshree Seth, to be 3M’s first-ever Chief Science Advocate. We’re finding new and better ways to support STEM education. And we’re partnering with the Nobel organization to support science education; in the last few months we’ve hosted events in Chile and India with Laureates and students, and we’ll host similar gatherings later this year in Europe.

I think often about the impact I want to make on the world – in my personal life, and in the organization I’m honored to lead. For 3M, our purpose is articulated in our vision statement, ending with “improving every life.” And it’s reflected in our commitment to sustainability, which is a value that matters deeply to our people, to our customers and to me personally. Moving forward, we’ll continue to collaborate with governments, communities and other organizations to build a safer, stronger and healthier world.