Our Every Life Ambition

Imagine a world where every life is improved – where natural resources are reliably available, people have access to education and opportunity, and communities are safe, healthy, connected and thriving.

We aim to help make that world a reality. But an ambition that big won’t be easy. So we at 3M pledge the following:

We will push ourselves to create the science and technology to achieve these goals.
We will encourage individual passion and curiosity both within the company and within our communities.
We will acknowledge that we cannot succeed alone and commit to stimulating and supporting collaborations to improve every life on earth.

Learn more about how we’re improving lives.

Resources

Stories

Our Commitment and Journey

Since 1932, we’ve been at the forefront of companies adopting programs and policies to ensure environmental protection, social responsibility and economic vitality.

Expand to see our complete sustainability timeline.

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1932: 3M provides short-term and long-term disability coverage, a pension plan and an unemployment insurance plan.

1949: The first 3M stock purchase plan for employees is introduced.

1951: 3M Safety and Security Department is created.

1953: 3M Foundation is established, one of the first corporate charitable foundations in America.

1961: 3M Water and Sanitary Engineering Department is created.

1963: 3M Carlton Society is created to honor outstanding technical employees.

1964: First formally trained industrial hygienist and health physicist join 3M’s Medical Department.

1970: Product Environmental assessments begin. Environmental Engineering and Pollution Control (EE&PC) organization is formed. Industrial hygiene and health physics services expand to 3M operations outside the United States.

1971: 3M Employee/Retiree Matching Gift Program is established for charitable contributions.

1973: Employee van pools are created. Energy Management Department is formed.

1974: 3M is among the first corporations to offer an in-house Employee Assistance Program, providing personal education and consultation services for employees and their families.

1975: 3M Environmental Policy is adopted by the 3M Board of Directors. Pollution Prevention Pays (3P) Program is formed. First-year results: 19 projects prevented 73,000 tons of air emissions, 2,800 tons of sludge.

1977: 3M and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sponsor four conferences on pollution prevention.

1980: 3M Safety and Health Policy is first adopted.

1981: Environmental Audit Program begins.

1984: World Environment Center presents 3M with the First Annual Gold Medal for International Corporate Environmental Achievements. 3M is the first corporation to offer sick child care services to employees. During the same year, 3M begins administering the 3M Poll to U.S. employees and the Standard Opinion Survey globally every two years to measure employee opinion. 3M CARES (Community Action Retired Employee Services) Program is created to bring together retiree volunteers under the 3M banner and match them to specific needs.

1986: 3M Community Volunteer Award is established.

1987: 3M Corporate Safety, Health and Environmental Committee is formed. 3M Air Emission Reduction Program is launched.

1988: 3M Ozone Depleting Chemical phase out policy is adopted.

1989: 3M Year 2000 Environmental goals are established and publicly announced. 3M Employee Safety, Health and Environmental Policy is adopted. National Wildlife Federation presents its Environmental Achievement Award to 3M.

1990: Recycled paper Post-it® Notes are introduced. 3M 16-point Safety Program is approved.

1991: Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award is received from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

1993: 3M goal of 70% reduction in worldwide air emissions is achieved. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Corporate Wildlife Award is received.

1994: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency presents Achievement Award for 3M's successful participation in the 33/50 Voluntary Air Emission Reduction Program.

1995: 3M launches world's first CFC-free metered dose inhaler for the treatment of asthma. 3M initiates program to reduce injuries and illnesses by 50% in four years. 3M receives the National Medal of Technology Award, the highest award for technical achievement in the United States.

1996: President Clinton's Council on Sustainable Development selects 3M's 3P Program for the President's Sustainable Development Award. 3M Environmental Management System is formalized. 3M Global Safety and Health Plan is developed.

1997: 3M formalizes Life Cycle Management System to ensure the consideration of Environmental, health and safety issues in new product development. 3M scientists receive Heroes of Chemistry Award from the American Chemical Society for the development of 3M Hydrofluoroethers (HFEs) as a CFC replacement. 3M initiates Lifescapes program to help employees protect their health, safety, and well-being at work and at home. 3M initiates Lifescapes program to help employees protect their health, safety, and well-being at work and at home.

1998: 3M sets safety and health goals to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses 25% a year for three years.

1999: Hamburger Umweltinstitut of Germany ranks 3M second in eco-performance among 50 largest chemical-using companies worldwide.

2000: 3M GIVES (Grants Initiated by Volunteer Service) is established.

2001: Environmental Targets for 2005 are launched. Environmental dimension is added to the 3M Contributions Program. 3M receives the National Points of Light Foundation Award for Excellence in Corporate Community Service.

2003: 3M is awarded the Clean Air Excellence Award in the Category of Regulatory/Policy Innovations by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

2004: 3M is awarded a 2004 Energy Star award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy for its leadership in energy management.

2005: 3M is awarded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Climate Protection Award. 3M completes its 2000–2005 Corporate Environmental Goals program, exceeding each of its targets, and launches a new set of Corporate Environmental Goals for 2005–2010. 3M is awarded the 2005 Most Valuable Pollution Prevention (MVP2) Award from the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable. 3M is selected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the first ever corporate-level National Environmental Performance Track Outreach Award winner.

2008: 3M establishes its Renewable Energy Division. 3M establishes new Strategic Sustainability Principles.

2010: In the fall of 2010, 3M teamed up with the U.S. EPA and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to bring the EPA's ENERGY STAR Exhibit House to the Minnesota State Fair. Check out this video.

2011: 3M establishes its 2015 Sustainability Goals. 3M is recognized for the eighth year in a row by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy by winning the Sustained Excellence Award for Energy Management in recognition of continuous improvement in energy management.

2013: 3Mers volunteered more than 250,000 hours and 3M donated more than $61.6 million in global cash and in-kind product donations.

2014: 3M joined the United Nations Global Compact. And for worldwide energy-conservation efforts, 3M earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR® award. This was the 10th consecutive year 3M received the honor, an industry first.

Our Collaborations

Collaboration is an important part of our sustainability strategy. We partner with a variety of organizations to gain a diverse set of viewpoints on sustainability, a better understanding of the positions of our stakeholders, and a mechanism to learn from the successes and failures of our peers.
Singapore Collaborations
Building & Construction Authority (BCA)

In 2016, 3M supported the Singapore Sustainable Built Environment Conference organized by BCA.
Housing Development Board (HDB)

In 2013, 3M was awarded the Greenprint Fund for our ducted illumination solution to be implemented at common areas. It will be launched commercially as 3M™ Channel Lighting System, which helps enable energy savings through the reduction of light sources needed to illuminate long spaces, such as corridors.
National Environment Agency

3M is a founding partner of the Energy Efficiency National Partnership (EENP), a voluntary partnership program for companies that wish to be more energy efficient, launched by NEA in 2010.
Singapore Chemical Industry Council (SCIC)

3M is a member of the SCIC workgroup working with SPRING Singapore to ensure the inclusion of sustainability in chemical industry standards.
Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC)

3M is a member of SGBC and contributes to the green building movement in Singapore.
Global Collaborations
The Nature Conservancy

Together we have funded projects in the U.S., China, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico.
Darkwoods

A $500k 3M Foundation grant will help secure the single largest private land purchase for conservation in Canadian history, spanning from Yellowstone to the Yukon. This land will help restore caribou habitat and other critical species by connecting protected areas.
The Minnesota Forest Legacy Partnership

A $1.5 million grant to protect 89,000 acres in northern Minnesota will make it one of the largest intact forests remaining nationwide
Crown of the Continent

In 2011, 3M provided a $1 million grant to knit together a 60-million-acre network of protected public lands across Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and into southern British Columbia. This represents two of the largest conservation acquisitions in North American history.
Emissions Credits

3M has been able to earn emission reduction credits under U.S. environmental laws for reducing its air emissions beyond environmental regulatory requirements. In most cases we either sold those credits and contributed the profits to environmentally beneficial projects or contributed the credits themselves to state and local governments for air-quality improvements.
World Resources Institute

We’re working with the World Resources Institute and our fellow members of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development to develop a global protocol to quantify carbon emissions in the supply chain and throughout product life cycles.
Design for the Environment

Our Building and Commercial Services Division participates in a Design for the Environment (DFE) initiative through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As part of the initiative, 3M researchers work with government specialists to identify effective chemicals for cleaning products that protect both human and environmental health.