Environmental Health and Safety

Protecting our social and physical environment is one of 3M's core values. At 3M Corona, we achieve this through our commitment to proactive environmental management.

Managing Our Environmental Footprint

Environmental Health and Safety Management System
3M Corona's EHS Management System promotes sound environmental management. It helps us to manage the environmental footprint of our operations, drive sustainable growth, and address the expectations of our stakeholders. These stakeholders include our employees, customers, regulators, environmental groups, and the communities surrounding our plant.

Our EHS Management System:

• Includes an integrated, holistic system that anticipates and addresses long-term issues and drives continuous improvement.
• Promotes a strategic planning process that integrates EHS issues into business planning.
• Includes a process for identifying issues, developing formal action plans, setting goals and measuring results.

Pollution Prevention
3M pioneered the concept of pollution prevention with the creation of the pollution prevention pays (3P) program in 1975. The 3P program is based on the reality that pollution prevention is more environmentally effective, technically sound and economical than conventional pollution control equipment. Natural resources, energy and money are used to build conventional pollution controls, and more resources are consumed operating them. Conventional controls are temporarily and do not eliminate the problem. 3P seeks to eliminate pollution at the source through product reformulation, process modification, equipment redesign, and the recycling and reuse of waste materials.

3P is a key element of 3M Corona's environmental strategy. Since 1980, 3M Corona has completed over thirty 3P projects. In 2008 alone, the plant reduced 5000 tons of waste and avoided peak hour electric usage of 13,000 MMBTUs which saved more than $450,000 through the implementation of 3P projects.

Key Environmental Accomplishments
We are particularly proud of our work around the following:

• 3M Corona received ISO 14001:2004 registration in January, 2008.
• In 2005, 3M Corona was a recipient of the Chairman's EHS Leadership Award.
• Since 2002, 3M Corona has actively partnered with the Santa Ana Watershed Association in monitoring the activities of the Least Bell Vireo and the increase of its habitat.