3M

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Owned	USA
Rating

Diversified technology company

Six operating segments: consumer and office; display and graphics; electro and communications; health care; industrial and transportation; and safety, security, and protection services. 3M has operations in more than 60 countries.


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3M Company

87.7/100 in Newsweek rankings

America's Most Responsible Companies 2022 by Newsweek and Statista recognises the Top 500 most responsible companies in the United States. Companies were evaluated in three areas: environmental (waste, energy use, etc.), social (leadership diversity, employees and philanthropy) and governance (transparency and economic performance). This company received a total score of 87.7/100, ranking 2nd in the Capital Goods sector, and 24th overall.
Source: Newsweek (2021)

CDP Climate Change Score of B

In 2021, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change risk. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Climate Change Score of B.
Source: CDP (2021)

100% on Corporate Equality Index

This company is listed as having best practice on a report card on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality in corporate America.
Source: Human Rights Campaign (2021)

59/125 at JUST Capital

JUST Capital polls Americans every year to identify the issues that matter most in defining just business behaviour. For their 2023 rankings JUST Capital asked a representative sample of 3,002 Americans to compare 20 different business Issues on a head-to-head basis, producing a reliable hierarchy of Issues ranked in order of priority. Issues are organised under the headings Workers, Customers, Communities, the Environment, or Shareholders & Governance. JUST Capital then define metrics that map to those issues and track and analyse the largest, publicly traded U.S. companies. This analysis powers their rankings, in which this company ranked 182nd of 951 companies, and 6th of 50 Industrial Goods companies.
Source: JUST Capital (2023)

Delaying action on plastic pollution

The Talking Trash 2020 report by Changing Markets investigates the corporate playbook of false solutions to the plastic crisis. It found that the industry is actively delaying and derailing ambitious action on plastic pollution in its fight to maintain business as usual for as long as possible. For example, this plastic producing company is signed up to two nice-sounding voluntary initiatives to address plastic waste, while also participating in 4 industry associations which lobby against legislation that could restrict plastic, or make corporations responsible for managing the waste they create, financially or otherwise.
Source: Changing Markets (2020)

Earplug lawsuits

As of 2022, in the largest mass tort litigation in U.S. history, nearly 300,000 military veterans have filed lawsuits against 3M due to defective Combat Arms Earplugs Version 2 (CAEv2) that left service members and veterans with tinnitus and hearing loss. The litigation began with a 2018 whistleblower lawsuit against 3M revealing allegations that the company knowingly sold defective dual-ended Combat Arms earplugs to the United States Military. This case resulted in a $9.1 million settlement with the Department of Justice. As of May 20, 2022, juries have awarded nearly $300 million to U.S. service members and veterans.
Source: Bryant Law Center (2022)

Animal Testing

This company appears on PETA's (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, USA) 'Companies That Do Test On Animals' list, signifying that they manufacture products that are tested on animals at some stage of development.
Source: PETA (2022)

Supply chain practices in China

The Green Supply Chain Corporate Information Transparency Index (CITI) evaluates consumer-facing companies that have a sizeable supply chain in China. The evaluation uses government supervision data and public information to assess the environmental management of their supply chains in China. This company received a score of 14.34/100 (retrieved 24 Nov 2023).
Source: IPE (2023)

$12.5b pollution settlement

In 2023 3M agreed to pay up to US$12.5 billion to public water systems across the United States as part of a settlement related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) "forever chemicals" contamination in drinking water systems throughout the country. 3M was one of several manufacturers accused of selling PFAS-containing products they knew would contaminate the environment and lead to human health issues such as cancer, according the the forever chemicals lawsuit.
Source: Top Class Actions (2023)

17.2% in Nature Benchmark

The 2022 Nature Benchmark ranks 400 companies across eight industries on their efforts to protect our environment and its biodiversity. The companies were assessed using three measurement areas: governance and strategy; social inclusion and community impact; and ecosystems and biodiversity. This company ranked #164/400, with a total score of 17.2/100.
Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2022)

Military involvement

This company produces a wide range of products for the defense industry, and has been supplying the US military for more than 60 years.
Source: company website (2017)

Involvement with prisons

As documented by the Project of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), this company is involved in the USA prison industry. 3M supplies materials for prison labor programs and for weapon systems used against civilians.
Source: (2021)

Nuclear - direct involvement

This company provides products to the nuclear power industry
Source: Company website (2017)

CEO Pay Ratio of 198:1

In 2022 the median pay for a worker at this company was US$70,905. The CEO was paid 198 times this amount. Exorbitant CEO pay is a major contributor to rising inequality. CEOs are getting more because of their power to set pay, not because they are increasing productivity or possess specific, high-demand skills. The economy would suffer no harm if CEOs were paid less (or taxed more). In contrast, the CEO-to-typical-worker compensation ratio was 20-to-1 in 1965 and 58-to-1 in 1989.
Source: AFL-CIO (2023)

Excessive CEO pay

As You Sow's 2022 report, 'The 100 Most Overpaid CEOs', reveals the 100 most overpaid CEOs from USA's 500 largest public companies (as determined by the S&P 500 list). This company's CEO, Michael Roman came in at number 79 on the list, having been paid US$20,700,347 in 2021. According to the report, "Most CEOs have come to be grossly overpaid, and that overpayment is harmful to the companies, the shareholders, the customers, the other employees, the economy, and society as a whole."
Source: As You Sow (2022)

Pulp & Paper Policy

After a 6 year campaign by ForestEthics and Greenpeace, in March 2015 3M announced a new paper and wood pulp sourcing policy and commitment to trace its virgin wood fiber, ensuring it comes from renewable sources.
Source: Reuters (2015)

Climate action commitments

As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: commit to 100% renewable power.
Source: We Mean Business (2021)

FSC certification

This company holds Forest Stewardship Council Chain of Custody Certification, and sells post-it notes certified as FSC Mix.
Source: FSC (2023)

Sustainability claims

This company has a number of sustainability claims on its website, including reductions in the use of energy and water, sending less waste to landfill, and charitable donations.
Source: company website (2014)

Sustainable Brands member

This company is a Gold Member of the Sustainable Brands Network, the leading peer to peer, learning and networking group designed to support brands in meeting their sustainability goals and ultimately become those leaders of the next sustainable economy.
Source: Sustainable Brands (2018)

Textile Exchange member

This company is a member of the Textile Exchange, a global non-profit that works closely with its members to drive textile industry transformation in preferred fibres, integrity and standards and responsible supply networks. They identify and share best practices regarding farming, materials, processing, traceability and product end-of-life in order to reduce the textile industry's impact on the world's water, soil and air, and the human population.
Source: Textile Exchange (2019)

Global Plastics Treaty endorsee

In 2022 after more than 170 nations backed a historic UN resolution to end plastic pollution, global businesses across the plastics value chain, financial institutions, and NGOs came together to announce a common vision for an effective and ambitious Global Treaty to End Plastic Pollution. The vision will form the basis for future policy engagements with governments through a newly launched Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty which will be convened by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and WWF. This company has endorsed the vision statement of the treaty.
Source: Global Plastics Treaty (2023)

GC3 member (Green Chemistry)

This company is a member of the Green Chemistry and Commerce Council (GC3), a business-to-business forum that advances the application of green chemistry and design for environment across supply chains. It provides an open forum for cross-sectoral collaboration to share information and experiences about the challenges to and opportunities for safer chemicals and products.
Source: GC3 (2019)

Responsible Minerals Initiative member

This company is a member of the Responsible Minerals Initiative (formerly the Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative), which helps companies address conflict minerals issues in their supply chains. The RMI provides information on conflict-free smelters and refiners, common tools to gather sourcing information, and forums for exchanging best practices on addressing conflict minerals. Membership is open to companies that use or transact in tantalum, tin, tungsten or gold (3TG). Founded in 2008 by members of the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition and the Global e-Sustainability Initiative.
Source: RMI (2019)

Ellen MacArthur Foundation member

This company is a member of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, whose stated mission is to accelerate the transition to a circular economy. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation works with business, government and academia to build a framework for an economy that is restorative and regenerative by design.
Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2023)

How2Recycle member

This company is a member of How2Recycle. The How2Recycle Label is a voluntary, standardized labeling system that clearly communicates recycling instructions to the public. It involves a coalition of forward thinking brands who want their packaging to be recycled and are empowering consumers through smart packaging labels. Companies must be a member of the program to use the How2Recycle Label.
Source: How2Recycle (2023)

43% in Forest 500 Rankings

Forest 500 identifies the 350 companies and 150 financial institutions with the greatest exposure to tropical deforestation risk, and annually assesses them on the strength and implementation of their deforestation and human rights commitments. This company received a score of 43%.
Source: Forest 500 (2021)

Modern Slavery statement

California, the UK and Australia have all enacted legislation requiring companies operating within their borders to disclose their efforts to eradicate modern slavery from their operations and supply chains. Follow the link to see this company's disclosure statement.
Source: company website (2017)

59.6% in conflict minerals rankings

As You Sow's 2019 report, Mining the Disclosures, is a deep analysis of 215 companies' human rights performance in relation to sourcing conflict minerals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This company's score was 59.6% (Adequate).
Source: As You Sow (2019)

OpenSecrets.org profile

OpenSecrets.org tracks the influence of money on U.S. politics, and how that money affects policy and citizens' lives. Follow link to see this company's record of political donations, lobbying, outside spending and more.
Source: Open Secrets (2020)

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Company Details

Type	Public company
Revenue	32.8 billion USD (2018)
Employees	93,516 (2018)
Subsidiaries	3M Australia Pty Ltd Diversified technology company 3m operates 4 manufacturing sites in Australia

Contact Details

Address	3M Center, St Paul, Minnesota, USA
Website	www.3m.com

Products / Brands

3M Australia

3M Polish
Futuro Bandages
Highland Stationery
Highland Sticky Notes
Nexcare Bandages
Post It Sticky Notes
Post It Stationery

Scotch Adhesives
Scotch Stationery
Scotch-Brite Gloves
Scotch-Brite Scourers, Sponges & Wipes
Scotch-Gard Polish

3M

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