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3M’s multifaceted strategy for implementing EMS and global auditing of environmental compliance for our operations is key to understanding any potential gaps and quickly gaining resolution. In 2019, we combined our Global Safety and Health Plan (GSHP) self-assessment and Global Environmental Management SelfAssessment (GEMSA) to create 3M’s EHS Management System SelfAssessment, which is the basis for our self-assessment and audit protocols. The EHS management system defines EHS requirements that apply to all 3M sites globally and has been designed to bring more consistency to EHS assessments at 3M manufacturing, supply chain, and R&D sites worldwide.
All manufacturing sites, and new acquisitions based on their integration progress, must complete the EHS Management System Self-Assessment at least annually. The environmental elements reflect procedures, systems, and processes that are.
Managing Global Risk and Compliance.
Maintain compliance.
Develop environmental professionals Manage risk.
Share best practices.
Identify common areas for improvement.
Build common understanding of requirements.
Comprised in the auditing process: • The frequency of environmental compliance audits on manufacturing, distribution, and laboratory operations is based on the site’s EHS complexity rating along with management input • At least annually, all global manufacturing, supply chain, and R&D sites are assessed with respect to the standard audit frequencies to establish a prioritized list of sites for compliance auditing • 3M uses a variety of tools and resources for compliance auditing, including: ○ Internally developed compliance protocols created by subjectmatter experts in regulatory programs and 3M processes ○ 3M’s EHS management system ○ Externally purchased compliance protocols, especially for operations outside the United States, to assure local compliance obligations are understood and met ○ Internal environmental compliance experts from around the company ○ External environmental consultants, as needed, to provide additional expertise and thirdparty verification of our auditing protocols ○ Complete and robust documentation of audits ○ Findings, with assignments of responsibility, due dates for closure, and tracking to completion ○ Detailed reviews of findings to assure corrective actions are complete.
Third-party assurance of Sustainability metric reporting.
APEX Companies, LLC provided independent third-party verification of 3M’s 2019 environmental data (volatile organic compound emissions, water, waste, environmental compliance metrics, energy consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions), included in this 2020 Sustainability Report. For additional information on our third-party assurance, see the APEX Companies, LLC Assurance Statement.
Site self-assessments and auditing 3M verifies regulatory compliance and alignment with prioritized sections of the EHS Management System Self-Assessment, conducting environmental-related audits on a standardized schedule based on sitespecific EHS complexities. In 2019, our EHS site audits covered sites that manufactured 34.8% of sales value of production (SVOP).
Key objectives of audits:

How we work 142 143 3M 2020 Sustainability Report #improvinglives Environmental management product output. of 3M’s total 80.3% account for approximately 14001-certified sites.
Altogether, our ISO


We will continue to drive environmental management programs across all our global manufacturing sites. With the supporting technology developed in 2019, we will update our global EHS management system, including site self-assessments, internal audits, and a new EHS Management Standard. Our work to reduce the likelihood of significant events will continue into 2020, keeping our focus on environmental, health, and safety compliance in our operations.
In 2020, we are expanding the number of global EHS audits and are working to bring multi-disciplinary teams to help sites achieve risk reduction and EHS goals. We will be implementing a new global site EHS Management of Change system, developing a new Environmental Hazard Assessment (EHA) process tool, creating standard work for event investigations, and exploring real-time data systems to track EHS compliance.
We are committed to being part of environmental solutions, guided by the principles of sound science, corporate responsibility, and transparency.
3M’s EHS auditing program is audited periodically by 3M’s Corporate Auditing Department, resulting in recent improvements to the scope of the audit program, fully addressing all in-scope sites and the verification of EHS audit findings.
All EHS auditors, except for 3M EHS professionals who are guest auditors, are required to take a certification test covering the important aspects of the 3M EHS Auditor Guidelines. 3M EHS professionals are assigned to an audit team or lead auditor to provide support on the auditing process and/or a specific subject during the audit.
Compliance analysis, documentation, and verification.
In an effort to create more consistency in auditing of manufacturing sites, 3M has refined its Compliance and Auditing Management and Metric Systems (CAMMS).
Primarily focused in the United States and Canada, CAMMS is a system for maintaining environmental compliance requirements and determinations. It allows us to conduct internal compliance audits in the context of applicable regulatory requirements and company policies and standards through the use of CAMMS dynamic audit checklists. In addition, CAMMS utilizes a risk assessment tool for prioritizing resources to implement corrective actions.
EHS professional training.
As part of our ongoing training efforts, 3M conducted monthly webinars in 2019 for environmental, health, and safety employees on topics that draw global interest. The webinars were recorded and placed on a website that allows convenient access for those who couldn’t attend the live events. A wide range of topics were covered, with specific focus on the new elements of the EHS management system.
In addition, 3M holds EHS global conferences in the St. Paul/ Minneapolis region as well as half- day to multi-day on-site workshops around the globe. 3M also offers scholarships for professional certification training courses and covers fees for professional certification exams as well as recertification dues.
Commitment to PFAS stewardship.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a broad class of chemical compounds containing two essential elements – carbon and fluorine. The carbon-fluorine bond is strong and stable even at high temperatures. This property lends itself to many useful applications of industrial and social significance, including health care, advanced electronics, and replacement of materials with high global warming potential.
3M is constantly and proactively examining the environmental impact of our products. As the science of PFAS progressed, we learned that some of these materials were becoming widespread and had the potential to build up over time. As part of our commitment to environmental stewardship, in May of 2000, 3M made the decision to phase-out PFOS and PFOA. We chose to stop production ahead of any regulatory requirement to do so, and we shared our learnings with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the rest of the industry.
3M is committed to responsible environmental stewardship and protecting natural resources. We work with federal, state, and local authorities regarding environmental aspects of our operations and are dedicated to acting responsibly and transparently in the way we treat our customers and the way we treat the environments in which we operate.
Globally, 3M has invested millions on research, technology, and cleanup efforts related to PFAS. For example, more than $50M has gone toward installing water filtration systems, and more than $100M has been invested in testing water sources to better understand the quality of both groundwater and drinking water in communities.
To learn more, see “3M’s Commitment to PFAS Stewardship.” 3M EHS audit locations, 2014-2019.
Looking forward.
How we work 144 145 3M 2020 Sustainability Report #improvinglives Environmental management


Our commitment.
Our current global economy’s linear business model of “take, make, and waste” is depleting natural resources faster than they can be replenished and is straining our ecosystems. Imagine repurposing a piece of plastic at the end of its use, giving it another life as something else. Its use is, in fact circular, and the end of use doesn’t mean the end of life.
A circular economy does more with less, keeps products and materials in use, designs out waste and pollution, and regenerates natural systems. At the core is an opportunity to develop technologies and business models that are restorative and regenerative by design. We see the circular economy as an opportunity to inspire leadership, innovation, and disruptive change, all driving impact for a sustainable future.
At 3M, Science for Circular is one of three pillars of our Strategic Sustainability Framework and focuses on designing solutions that do more with less material, advancing a global circular economy.
Renewable and recycled materials, water, packaging, and waste are materials with critical performance indicators for circularity. We believe it is our responsibility to carefully assess these materials as we focus on Science for Circular. It is also our responsibility to be strategic, planful, and to mitigate risks related to these materials along the way.
We believe that risk management is an essential component of strategic planning — with broad risk oversight by the 3M Board of Directors and its committees and with committee-level risk analyses reported to the full Board and executive-level Internal Auditor and Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer appointed by, and reporting directly to, the Audit Committee.
The highest level of Sustainability risk governance is the responsibility of our Science, Technology & Sustainability Committee of the Board of Directors. The committee oversees the twin demands of developing products to meet the ever-changing needs of our customers while assuring that those products cause no harm to people or to our planet.
The committee’s roles and responsibilities include reviewing the company’s Sustainability policies and programs; and identifying and analyzing significant Sustainability, materials vulnerability, and geopolitical issues that may impact our overall business strategy, global business continuity, and financial results. For more information on risk, see the Enterprise risk section.
Reusable, renewable, and recycled materials 3M continually looks for ways to recover, reuse, and recycle byproducts and other surplus material, and we include renewable and recycled materials in our products whenever possible. Increasing usage of renewable and recycled raw materials through product design and operational considerations helps assure our products support the circular economy.
Circular materials Design solutions that do more with less material, advancing a global circular economy.
Water stewardship.
Water is an important raw material supporting our product manufacturing processes. We respect our ecological and ethical responsibility and have a vested interest in preserving and improving the quality and availability of water in the communities we serve and beyond. 3M’s Water Stewardship Standard outlines our commitment to water resources that secure social equity, economic growth, and environmental protection. Water resources include water intake, effluent water discharge, and rainwater.
The threat of water scarcity is real and is already occurring in some areas of the world. We are continually evaluating risks and opportunities related to water scarcity. To define our high-risk sites, 3M uses the World Resource Institute (WRI) Aqueduct™ Tool to screen the company’s various sites and their water use with validated.
WRI water availability information, both on a country and watershed basis. In 2019, 18 sites with annual water use equal to or greater than 1,000 cubic meters were in water-stressed areas as defined by the extremely high baseline water stress value, according to the WRI Aqueduct Tool.
Each 3M site located in a waterstressed area is required to understand its water use and associated business risks and impacts and must work with local water resources to understand potential impacts on the surrounding area. Those sites are also asked to do water conservation planning, outlining current and future water conservation efforts. Annual stress-level screening evaluations are conducted for global operations using available updates from the water tool, an analysis of site operations, and water usage and local conditions.
3M operations must manage their water resources through alignment with regulatory requirements, conservation, and reuse, as well as by reporting water usage internally.
3M will partner with local communities to advance water recycling and conservation. Ultimately, we aim to help these communities build and manage their own clean water efforts into the future.
United States (nine)
Mexico (three)
Peru (one)
India (two)
Singapore (two)
Japan (one) 3M locations in-scope for the 2025 Sustainability water-stressed/scarce communities goal.
Goal: Reduce global water use by an additional 10%, indexed to sales by 2025.
Science for Circular.
Goal: Engage 100% of water-stressed/scarce communities where 3M manufactures, on community-wide approaches to water management by 2025.
Science for Circular.
How we work 146 147 3M 2020 Sustainability Report #improvinglives Circular materials


Packaging 3M’s product diversity, markets, and global multi-channel distribution systems create a complex situation that does not lend itself to a “one solution fits all” approach. Our packaging Sustainability roadmap takes into consideration the requirements and needs that are quickly evolving around the world.
Our roadmap’s top priorities include: • Product protection: Design every package to optimally protect the product from point of manufacture to point of use • Efficient packaging: Minimize the amount of material used. Optimize cube utilization at all pack levels. Eliminate all unnecessary packaging • Circular packaging: Design packaging to be reusable, recyclable, and/or made with renewable resources. Maximize recycled content of packaging materials.
Waste management.
We reduce, recover, reuse, and recycle byproducts and other surplus material in our operations whenever feasible. When not feasible, we responsibly dispose of waste materials.
The 3M Waste Management Standard applies to all 3M sites and provides a framework for managing all waste types from the time of generation until reused, recycled, treated, or disposed. The standard sets a baseline for several core waste program elements and encourages waste minimization and recycling whenever possible.
Per the standard, each 3M site has a waste management coordinator who is responsible for assuring conformance to the standard, including organizing appropriate waste training for all personnel. Compliance with all 3M and other regulated waste requirements is evaluated through the internal environmental auditing program.
Our Disposal of Chemical Waste Standard calls for appropriate management and disposal of chemical waste to manage risks and protect the environment. This includes efforts to reduce the amount and hazards of waste materials generated, to recycle or reuse those materials whenever practical, and to control waste disposal through final disposition.
We’ll continue to drive “zero waste” thinking with our product designs and process technologies and will continue material reduction work within our manufacturing operations. Our definition of manufacturing waste for this goal includes materials sent to incineration and landfill.
150,000 50,000 200,000 350,000 250,000 100,000 300,000 2017 2016 2018 2019 2015 0.
Waste-to-energy Offsite recycle.
Offsite reuse* Onsite recycle + reuse*
In addition to our waste reduction goal, we plan to increase the repurposing, reusing, and recycling of potential waste materials to divert them from landfill disposal. The intention of our zero landfill goal is to drive our sites to increase product and process optimization, on-site and offsite recycling, and composting. Our actions.
Circularity in our operations.
Reusable, renewable, and recyclable materials in our operations.
While reducing waste is the first choice in the hierarchy of waste management options, other possibilities, such as reusing, recycling, and composting, can also fuel the circular economy by getting more out of our materials and allowing them to continue into their next life.
As sites identify opportunities to divert material streams, we protect 3M’s reputation by managing byproducts and setting up contracts with our haulers, recyclers, and waste-toenergy companies to confirm that our material is handled appropriately.
Zero landfill.
Our goal resonates with our local communities as well as our suppliers and customers. However, zero landfill has various definitions for different people and sites. We’ve spent a great deal of time during our goal development process benchmarking peer companies that span relevant business sectors and industries. Based on our research, we’ve chosen a holistic definition: At 3M, zero landfill means no byproduct is sent directly to a landfill from a 3M manufacturing site in a calendar year. A site will continue to be a zero landfill site as long as no manufacturing operations waste is sent to a landfill. Waste, as defined here, does not include ash generated from 3M material sent to a waste-to-energy or incineration site controlled by a third party.
Each site reports its waste data in a corporate database each quarter. This data is third-party validated at select sites and at the corporate level. We also require sites seeking zero landfill status to complete an internal assessment to assure accurate reporting.
As we monitor progress toward this goal, sites listed will change due to operations (e.g., site closures, acquisitions, and sites missing zero landfill by one day of the year). Read how one site reached zero landfill status in the 3M Columbia site spotlight.
Global waste diversion by type.
Metric tons.
Goal: Reduce manufacturing waste by an additional 10%, indexed to sales by 2025.
Science for Circular.
Goal: Achieve zero landfill status at more than 30% of manufacturing sites by 2025.
Science for Circular 35.4%
By the end of 2019, of 3M sites had attained zero landfill status.
* Does not include on-site recycling & reuse and offsite reuse from 3M’s industrial mineral product (IMP) division.
How we work 148 149 3M 2020 Sustainability Report #improvinglives Circular materials

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