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3P Examples
Dr. Joseph Ling: The Father of Pollution Prevention (PDF, 82KB)
View a video celebrating 30 years of employee environmental achievements through the 3P program.
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3P 30th Anniversary Video |
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3M's Pollution Prevention Pays (3P) program celebrated its 30th anniversary
in 2005. Over the last 34 years, the program has prevented more than 2.9 billion
pounds of pollutants and saved nearly $1.2 billion based on aggregated data from
the first year of each 3P project. The 3P program helps prevent pollution at the
source - in products and manufacturing processes - rather than removing it after
it has been created. When 3P was launched in 1975, the concept of applying
pollution prevention on a companywide basis and documenting the results was an
industry first.
The 3P program was updated in 2002 to provide more opportunities for participation by our research and development, logistics, transportation, and packaging employees with the addition of new award categories and criteria.
3P is a key element of our environmental strategy and in moving toward sustainability. 3P has achieved that status based on our belief that a prevention approach is more environmentally effective, technically sound and economical than conventional pollution controls. Natural resources, energy and money are used to build conventional pollution controls, and more resources are consumed operating them. Conventional control only constrains the problem temporarily; it does not eliminate the problem. 3P seeks to eliminate pollution at the source through:
- Product reformulation.
- Process modification.
- Equipment redesign.
- Recycling and reuse of waste materials.
The 3P program depends directly on the voluntary participation of 3M employees. Innovative projects are recognized with 3P Awards. A 3P Coordinating Committee representing 3M's engineering, manufacturing and laboratory organizations - and the Environmental, Health and Safety group - administers the program.
3M employees worldwide have completed over 7,400 3P projects. Projects must meet these criteria to receive formal recognition:
- Eliminate or reduce a pollutant.
- Benefit the environment through reduced energy use or more efficient use of manufacturing materials and resources.
- Save money - through avoidance or deferral of pollution control equipment costs, reduced operating and materials expenses, or increased sales of an existing or new product.
A special award also recognizes projects that demonstrate technical innovation.
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