Skip to Primary Navigation Skip to Site Navigation Skip to Main Content

Sustainability

 
Vision & Strategy
Corporate Policies & Standards
Product Innovations
Environmental Management & Performance
Stakeholders, Partnerships & Community
Our People
Our Sustainability Report
Resources

 

Reducing Air Emissions


One of 3M's highest priorities is reducing volatile organic air emissions stemming from manufacturing and emissions of substances listed on United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). The majority of 3M's TRI releases are air releases (during the 2006 reporting year, over 75% of 3M's onsite TRI releases were releases to air).


Reductions have been accomplished through:


  • Development of solventless technologies.
  • Pollution prevention programs.
  • Pollution control equipment.

Results:


  • 95 percent reduction in total pounds of volatile organic air emissions since 1990.
  • 95 percent reduction in total pounds of U.S. EPA TRI releases since 1990.
  • 3M's global operations emitted 13.6 million pounds of volatile organic air emissions in 2008, compared with 255 million pounds in 1990 (1 pound = .454 kilograms).
  • 3M released 3.5 million pounds of TRI releases in the United States in 2007 (2008 reporting year) compared with 69.5 million pounds in 1990.
VOC Emissions VOC Emissions
US TRI Releases US TRI Releases

Note: The increase in 3M’s VOC emissions from 2007 to 2008 is due, in large part, to the acquisition of a new facility. 3M has plans in place to reduce the VOC emissions from this facility over the next few years.