Milestones

Over the years, 3M has been at the forefront of companies that have adopted formal policies and programs to ensure environmental protection, social responsibility and economic progress. Here is a timeline of milestones in 3M's progress toward sustainability:

3M began providing short-term and long-term disability coverage and a pension plan for employees in the 1930s. The company institutes one of the nation's first company-paid unemployment insurance plans.

President and CEO William L. McKnight offers his management philosophy to guide the company. His belief in encouraging individual initiative, risk-taking and the freedom to fail enables 3M to manage many diverse businesses and deliver steady growth.

First 3M stock purchase plan for employees is introduced.

3M Safety and Security Department is created.

3M Foundation is established. It is one of the early corporate charitable foundations in the United States.

3M Water and Sanitary Engineering Department is created.

The 3M Carlton Society is created to honor outstanding technical employees. It is named for former 3M president Richard P. Carlton, who in 1921 became the company's first technical employee to hold a college degree.

First formally trained industrial hygienist and health physicist join 3M's Medical Department.

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.

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

Employee van pools are created.

Energy Management Department is formed.

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

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.

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

3M Safety and Health Policy is first adopted.

Environmental Audit Program begins.

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 community needs.

3M Community Volunteer Award is established.

3M Corporate Safety, Health and Environmental Committee is formed.

3M Air Emission Reduction Program is launched.

3M Ozone Depleting Chemical phaseout policy is adopted.

3M Year 2000 environmental goals are established.

3M Employee Safety, Health and Environmental Policy is adopted.

National Wildlife Federation presents its Environmental Achievement Award to 3M.

Recycled paper Post-it® Notes are introduced.

3M 16-point Safety Program is approved.

Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award is received from the U.S. EPA.

3M goal of 70 percent reduction in worldwide air emissions is achieved.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Corporate Wildlife Award is received.

U.S. EPA presents Achievement Award for 3M's successful participation in the 33/50 Voluntary Air Emission Reduction Program.

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 percent in four years.

3M receives the National Medal of Technology Award, the highest award for technical achievement in the United States.

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.

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 sets safety and health goals to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses 25 percent a year for three years.

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

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

3M Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Management System is adopted.

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.

3M is listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index as the leader in the Industrial Goods and Services category.

3M is included on the FTSE Socially Responsible Investment Index.

3M receives the "Vision for America" Award from Keep America Beautiful.

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

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

3M is awarded the U.S. EPA 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.

3M is recognized for the second year in a row by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy by winning the Sustained Excellence Award for Energy Management in recognition of continuous improvement in energy management.

3M Launches the Environmental Solutions Catalog.

3M Establishes its Renewable Energy Division
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3M Establishes New Strategic Sustainability Principles
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