3M has pledged to be more green by committing to embedding Sustainability into every new product in 2019.
The brand launches approximately 1,000 new products each year – and from 2019, 100% of products will be required to have a Sustainability Value Commitment to demonstrate how it drives impact for the greater good.
The new formal requirement will help embed Sustainability into the pipeline of producing 3M’s diverse global products.
“Sustainability has always been at the core of 3M—but we’re looking to do more,” explained Chief Technology Officer John Banovetz, who announced the new product requirement at the United National Climate Change Conference (COP24) on Dec. 5. “We are proud to formalize our commitment to this next step in innovating for a sustainable future.”
The changes are all part of 3M’s commitment to Sustainability as a purpose-driven business and builds on the company’s legacy of Sustainability leadership among global companies.
Beyond 3M’s own operations, one primary reason for the goal is to help customers achieve their Sustainability goals.
“As a large and diverse global science company with customers spanning many industries and global markets, we have the opportunity to make an even greater impact in Sustainability,” continued Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer Gayle Schueller. “We’ve made such significant progress on the 2025 Sustainability goals we set in 2015 that we’re raising the bar. The new product goal is an example of the aggressive targets we’ll be setting in coming months as part our strategic focus on empowering science for Circular, Climate and Community.”
The Sustainability Value Commitment in the new 3M products will include recyclability, energy and water savings, responsible sourcing, renewable materials, and/or reuse appropriate for the specific product.
The commitment also includes products with a core purpose of helping to solve an environmental or social problem, such as improving air quality, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving worker and patient safety in healthcare and industrial settings.
3M’s new product requirement will have a global impact, starting with their operations in 70 countries and the 200 countries where they sell our products. It will also help their customers reach their own Sustainability goals – and will impact 3M employees.
3M will measure the progress and impact of this commitment and report on it annually.
For more information visit www.3M.com.
