Sustaining the Environment3M's Environmental Tradition3M has been working to reduce the environmental impact of its products and processes since the late 1960s. In 1975, 3M’s commitment to the environment was formalized when the Board of Directors adopted the 3M Environmental Policy. This global environmental policy, which is believed to be the first policy with measurable results from a major manufacturing company, is a comprehensive statement of 3M’s environmental commitment with special emphasis on preventing the creation of pollution. Also in 1975, years before it became clear that environmental and business concerns could be mutually supportive, 3M introduced the voluntary Pollution Prevention Pays (3P) program. The 3P program has been successful beyond our expectations. It also has helped keep 3M facilities ahead of many regulatory requirements. By 2009, 34 years later, 3P ideas and initiatives from employees prevented 2.9 billion pounds of pollutants and saved 3M nearly $1.2 billion. 3P provides much of the philosophical basis for 3M’s environmental, health and safety programs. The prevention, rather than treatment, approach and extensive employee involvement are part of 3M’s culture. These are found in 3M’s Life Cycle Management process and are emphasized in the company’s environmental, energy, and health and safety policies. Prevention and employee ingenuity also guide our comprehensive Environmental, Health and Safety Management System, which requires continuous improvements toward sustainability through ever tougher environmental targets. We are pleased with our progress to date in reducing volatile organic air emissions, releases to water and solid waste. 3M has been a leader in addressing climate change through energy efficiency, manufacturing process improvements and developing products that help customers reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Looking forward, 3M will continue to set and achieve aggressive environmental, health and safety goals. We will continue to seek partnerships with environmental organizations, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Climate Leaders Program, to address climate change and other environmental issues. And along the way, we will continue to help customers improve their own environmental footprints with energy saving and greenhouse gas reducing products.
30+ Years of Pollution Prevention Pays (3P) |
United States > Our Company > Sustainability > Sustaining the Environment | |||||||||
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