3M Sustainability Background

3M — A Recognized Leader in Sustainability Efforts

More than 35 years ago, 3M made a longstanding commitment to sustainable development. The inception of 3M Pollution Prevention Pays (3P) in 1975 helped 3M integrate environmental solutions into product development, ensuring the products address environmental and health and safety risks and opportunities. Since then, 3M has been devoted to developing products – from materials acquisition and development to manufacturing, distribution, customer use and disposal – that boast green benefits throughout their life cycles.

Today, 3P and 3M’s Life Cycle Management (LCM) programs seek to eliminate pollution at the source through product reformulation, process modification, equipment redesign, and recycling and reusing waste materials. 3M employees have completed more than 8,100 projects to date, eliminating more than 3 billion pounds of pollution and saving 3M nearly $1.4 billion. These projects have yielded notable results for the environment and have proven 3M a leader in sustainable efforts around the globe.

Recent Recognition:
o3M was ranked number two in the “general industrials” category and number 22 overall out of the top 500 largest publicly traded companies in America for sustainability by Newsweek’s exclusive 2010 environmental ranking
oIncluded in 2010 Dow Jones Sustainability Index with Gold Class Distinction. 3M has been the leader in its sector since the inception of the index
oFirst named ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year in 2004 and recognized for six consecutive years thereafter (2005-2010) with the ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. Both the Partner and Sustained Awards recognize the company for comprehensive worldwide energy conservation
o3M was recognized with a Gold Class distinction in the SAM Sustainability Yearbook 2010. The yearbook is a corporate sustainability assessment published by SAM and PricewaterhouseCoopers. 3M’s score was 81%– within 1% of the Sector Leader, Siemens

By operating in smarter ways, 3M can create a more viable, sustainable company, while meeting social responsibilities and reducing the impact on the environment. It also develops new products that help its customers meet their environmental objectives.

Product examples include:
o 3Mâ„¢ Thinsulateâ„¢ Insulation with Recycled Fibers, contains 50 percent recycled polyester fibers from post-consumer waste, giving new life to resources that might otherwise end up in a landfill
oThe factories producing Thinsulate insulation recycle 100 percent of their polyolefin waste material. Excess product is sold to companies and used in many applications, including oil booms, furniture, and packaging material
oThinsulate insulation is consistently awarded the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Class I Certificate meeting the human-ecological requirements for products for babies and young children
oThe Thinsulate insulation factory in Japan has recently taken steps to change all virgin polyester fibers to recycled polyester fibers
o3Mâ„¢ Novecâ„¢ 1230 Fire Protection Fluid is a leading alternative to Halon and HFC-based fire suppressants and has zero ozone depletion potential
oScotchgardâ„¢ Hard Floor Protection Systems help to slash maintenance requirements, lower labor costs and reduce chemical use, while delivering impressive floor appearance
o3Mâ„¢ Industrial Adhesives and Tapes Division (3M IATD) offers a broad line of building and construction products that meet LEED(R) “Contribution Credits” or “Compliance Credits”

3M, Thinsulate, Novec, and Scotchgard are trademarks of 3M

Contact:

Colleen Harris
3M
(651) 733-1566
http://www.3m.com/PressContact

Brandan Orsatti
Cohn & Wolfe for 3M
(212) 798-9724
Brandan.Orsatti@cohnwolfe.com