The environment.
Over the last few years, fluorochemicals have been frequently mentioned in news stories about the environment. Many of these news stories have dealt with fluorochemical compounds known as Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA). If you have concerns about how these issues relate to the newly reformulated Scotchgard™ Protector products, or if you have concerns about what you have read or are uncertain about what it means to you, here are some facts 3M would like you to know:
 

• In May 2000, 3M made a voluntary decision to phase out its production of products having perfluorooctanyl chemistry (which included PFOA, PFOS and PFOS-related products), a chemistry that was used in many Scotchgard™ Protector products. 3M’s voluntary phase out decision was taken after research indicated that PFOS, at very low levels, was widely dispersed in wildlife around the world and also had been detected at low levels in people. Although extensive research showed there were no adverse health effects at the levels found, 3M did not want to add to the presence of this persistent compound in the environment or in people.
• Instead, 3M decided to invest in developing more sustainable substitute technologies, which efforts led to the introduction of a whole new “next generation” line of reformulated products under the Scotchgard™ Brand name. These reformulated products not only provide equal or better protection performance, they also have a very favorable environmental, health and safety profile.

The important thing to remember is that 3M’s newly-formulated carpet, textiles and leather products sold under, or featuring, the Scotchgard™ Brand name, are based upon stable polymers with minimal to no environmental impact. Further, based on extensive environmental, health and safety testing, these new materials show little toxicity to animals and aquatic organisms even at very high experimental doses in laboratory tests.

The new 3M protective products have passed the regulatory reviews of the U.S. EPA and other environmental agencies around the world. For example, in the United States EPA reviews and authorizes new materials before they can be placed on the U.S. market for commercial sale. The process is called the “Premanufacture Notification (PMN)” process. The EPA has reviewed the new 3M materials under the PMN process since 2000. 3M now uses these new materials in numerous products, including those marketed under the Scotchgard™ Brand name. 3M currently manufactures and sells its fluorochemical products under written agreements with the EPA called “consent orders”. As such, our “next generation” reformulated Scotchgard™ Protector products have been deemed acceptable for commercial sale and use in the United States, and most other countries around the world.

For additional information on perfluorooctanyl chemistry, PFOS or PFOA, information is available on EPA’s web site at www.epa.gov/oppt/. Search on “pfoa”.
You can also go to www.3M.com/pfos-pfoa.

Development of the “next generation” Scotchgard™ Protector products.
In keeping with 3M’s well-known commitment to innovation and product stewardship, once it was decided that 3M would voluntarily phase out of its Perfluorooctanyl Chemical (PFOS) compounds, a significant 3M research effort was undertaken to create a new generation of protective treatments for a broad range of applications. As a result of this effort, 3M has now successfully commercialized a number of new proprietary “next generation” protective treatment products.

These reformulated Scotchgard™ Protector products not only have excellent protection performance characteristics typically associated with products bearing the Scotchgard™ Brand name, but also have enhanced environmental, health and safety benefits. The “next generation” Scotchgard™ Brand products were subjected to extensive environmental, health and safety testing. These tests showed that the chemistry used in 3M’s “next generation” formulas were built upon stable polymers with minimal to no environmental impact, plus very low animal or human bioaccumulation. As such, these new products not only have excellent protection performance, but they also have a very favorable environmental, health and safety profile.

Using these new technologies, 3M has now been able to develop the “next generation” of high performance protective treatments. These new products provide a sustainable alternative to other protective treatments currently available. They also provide a number of useful benefits to society, including:

1. Keeping carpets looking better longer - therefore extending the carpet’s useful life.
2. Easy cleaning of walls and other surfaces, reducing the need to repaint as often while keeping the surface looking clean and fresh.
3. Easy removal of stains from apparel, extending the life of garments.
4. Preventing soiling and staining of leather products, extending their life and helping them look better, longer.
5. Preventing stains on grout, and allowing easier cleaning.
6. Minimizing soil and soap build-up on bathroom fixtures, reducing the use of cleaning products and making cleaning faster and easier

We all benefit in a wide variety of ways when everyday products have extended periods of useful life. There is a reduction in raw materials needed to manufacture new products, a reduction in energy to make new products, and less waste to be disposed. This can also help extend the discretionary portion of the monthly family budget.

Why use fluorochemicals at all?
Fluorochemical technology is critical to the development of high-quality, high performance protective materials. To date, no other class of materials has been found that repels soils and stains as effectively.

As noted above, the chemical components and building blocks in the reformulated 3M fluorochemical products have been extensively tested by 3M and reviewed by the EPA. These studies show that the ultimate fluorochemical degradation product in 3M’s “next generation” formulation has low potential to bioaccumulate, low toxicity and minimal to no environmental impact. Scotchgard™ Brand products now not only provide performance that customers have come to trust but are environmentally preferred!

3M has a continuing commitment to product stewardship and environmental responsibility. Scotchgard™ Brand products are safe for their intended use by industrial mills, professional applicators, and consumers. Scotchgard™ Brand products are a sustainable alternative to other protective products currently on the market.

History of phase out.
For 50 years, 3M sold state-of-the-art protective carpet, textile, and leather treatments under the Scotchgard™ Brand name utilizing Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) compounds. However, in May 2000 3M voluntarily decided to phase out of the production of these specific compounds. 3M’s decision was taken after research indicated that PFOS at very low levels was widely dispersed in wildlife around the world and also had been detected at low levels in people. Although extensive research showed there was no adverse human health or environmental effects at the levels found, 3M did not want to add to the presence of this persistent compound in the environment or in people. 3M no longer manufactures PFOA except for a single subsidiary in Europe that recovers and recycles PFOA for internal use as a necessary manufacturing aid in the production of fluoropolymers.

Scotchgard™ Protector products manufactured by 3M after December 31, 2000, are not made with or degrade to PFOS or PFOA.

In summary, 3M’s “next generation” of Scotchgard™ Brand products not only offer excellent protection performance for a wide variety of products that results in products typically having a longer and more useful life, but also are very favorable from an environmental, health and safety aspect.

If you would like more detailed environmental, health and safety data on any 3M product, call the 3M Helps Line:

1-888-3MHELPS (1-888-364-3577).

You can also find product-specific information, including copies of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) on the web at

www.3M.com/search

If you are seeking more information about PFOS and PFOA, the U.S. EPA publishes information on PFOA and other fluorochemical compounds on their website at www.epa.gov/oppt. Search on “pfoa”. You can also go to www.3M.com/pfos-pfoa.