Accelerating Change
How environmental innovations can usher in a new era of sustainability while helping to solve the climate emergency
By WP Creative Group
May 8, 2024
2023 was a historic year for climate extremes and weather-related disasters in the United States.1 At least 28 separate events—up from the previous record of 22, only three years before—caused more than $1 billion in damages. The increasing severity and frequency of tornadoes, storms, floods and other climate-driven events has led businesses and consumers to search for ways to make more environmentally conscious choices.
“Every new product we launch has to have a sustainability value commitment, demonstrating how it drives positive impact.”
– Gayle Schueller, 3M senior vice president, chief sustainability officer
3M is one of those businesses. “Every new product we launch has to have a sustainability value commitment, demonstrating how it drives positive impact,” said Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer Dr. Gayle Schueller. “Every day, 3M scientists are thinking about how to improve things that our customers need, that the industries we serve need, and how we might bring together our different technologies to create solutions.”
Schueller cited the following examples of areas where 3M is helping key industries meet their sustainability goals.
● Electric vehicles will help society reduce its overall carbon footprint. 3M is helping to advance battery performance through innovative thermal management and insulation materials.
● Direct air carbon capture devices have the potential to pull millions of tons of carbon out of the air. 3M is working with Svante to create Sorbent on a Roll—a product that leverages 3M expertise in filtration materials—to accelerate this process.
● The hydrogen economy needs to be bolstered to help sectors facing challenges in decarbonizing. 3M is developing innovative solutions for more efficient production, storage and transportation of clean hydrogen.
● Energy efficiency of buildings is about ensuring that heating and cooling equipment operates optimally. 3M offers a variety of construction and architectural solutions including window films, cool roofing granules and a new air and vapor barrier, that create energy savings. It also participates in a variety of programs as a partner of the Department of Energy’s Better Buildings initiative, including the Better Climate Challenge, Better Plants, and the Low Carbon Pilot.
● Impact investing. 3M is one of more than 20 global companies investing in the TPG Rise Climate Fund, a multibillion-dollar climate impact investing fund that focuses on sustainable innovations.
3M has reduced its emissions by more than 80 percent since 2002.
Beyond its work with industry, 3M is also helping consumers to live more sustainably. This couldn’t come at a better time. Individuals no longer think of global warming as a distant threat, and are willing to make lifestyle changes and purchasing decisions based on that awareness. In 3M’s 2024 State of Science Insights survey, 81% of people around the world said they think climate change is one of the biggest threats to humankind.
A significant contributor to the problem is plastic waste. Plastics refining generates about 200 million metric tons of greenhouse gases each year, according to the University of Colorado, and Ryder projects that the global e-commerce industry will use 4.5 billion tons of plastics annually for packaging and filler by 2025. 3M is using innovative materials to combat this issue.
“One way we’re reducing plastic waste is by reinventing packing materials,” Schueller said. “For example, our Scotch™ Cushion Lock™ protective wrap is not only made from 100% recycled paper, it can transform to fill a box using 60% less material than plastic bubble and be recycled curbside after use.”
At a recent climate summit hosted by The Washington Post, Schueller spoke about the company’s goal to reduce its own carbon footprint.
In 2019, 3M committed to reducing waste and increasing efficiency across operations.2 Since then, the company has implemented renewable electricity across 56.2 percent of its business, and it has reduced its emissions by more than 80 percent since 2002. Its executives are committed to even more ambitious goals for 2030, 2040 and beyond. “There’s a lot more to be done, but we have the math, path and the plan identified to do that,” said Schueller.
In addition, the company continues to implement a performance scorecard for its largest global transportation vendors, which further reduces emissions throughout its supply chain.
“We’re starting with listening exercises at key locations to better understand what communities need.”
– Gayle Schueller, 3M senior vice president, chief sustainability officer
3M also has produced a plan to bring together non-governmental organizations, corporate leaders and government officials to work alongside local communities around the United States. One of 3M’s focus areas in 2024 is advancing its work with environmental justice. “We’re starting with listening exercises at key locations to better understand what communities need,” said Schueller. “From there, we can develop strategies and collaborate with others to address those needs.”
Meanwhile, 3M is also acting with urgency to win the hearts and minds of other large organizations and individuals who want to make a change. “Once you realize that there are possibilities, that there are decisions we can make today and actions we can take right away, big and small, and always in collaboration with others, I think that’s when we make the difference,” Schueller said.
3M’s sustainability commitment is pushing us towards a better future.
Sources: 1https://www.climate.gov/news-features/blogs/beyond-data/2023-historic-year-us-billion-dollar-weather-and-climate-disasters 2https://news.3m.com/Reinventing-our-impact-3Ms-Global-Impact-Report