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3M

OVERALL

Owned
USA
Rating
Criticism, some praise

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.

3M Company   USA     website      facebook   twitter

> About the Ratings

Company Assessment

PRAISE CRITICISM INFORMATION
3M Company
Business Ethics 65.7% at JUST Capital
JUST Capital polls Americans every year to identify the issues that matter most in defining just business behaviour. For their 2021 rankings the public identified 19 issues, which are organised under the headings Workers, Communities, Customers, Shareholders and Environment. 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 90th of 928 companies, and 3rd of 37 Industrial Goods companies.
Source: JUST Capital (2020)
Environment CDP Climate Change Score of B
In 2020, 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 (2020)
Social 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 (2020)
Environment 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)
Animals 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 (2020)
Environment 35% in Forest 500 Rankings
The Forest 500 identifies, ranks, and tracks the governments, companies and financial institutions worldwide that together could virtually eradicate tropical deforestation. Rankings are based on their public policies and commitments and potential impacts on tropical forests in the context of forest risk commodities (palm oil, soy, beef, leather, timber and paper). This company received a score of 35%.
Source: Forest 500 (2020)
Business Ethics CEO Pay Ratio of 319:1
In 2019 the median pay for a worker at this company was US$57,494. The CEO was paid 319 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 (2020)
Social 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)
Business Ethics Nuclear - direct involvement
This company provides products to the nuclear power industry
Source: Company website (2017)
Business Ethics Excessive CEO pay
As You Sow's 2019 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, Inge Thulin came in at number 61 on the list, having been paid US$20,494,285 in 2018. 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 (2019)
Environment FSC certification
This company holds Forest Stewardship Council Chain of Custody Certification, and sells post-it notes certified as FSC Mix.
Source: FSC (2017)
Environment 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)
Business Ethics 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)
Business Ethics 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)
Business Ethics 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 (2020)
Business Ethics 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)
Business Ethics 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)
Business Ethics 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)
Social 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)
Social 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: Modern Slavery Registry (2017)
Business Ethics 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 (2014)
Business Ethics 51.6% in Newsweek Green Ranking 2017
This company received a score of 51.6/100 in the Newsweek Green Ranking 2017, which ranks the world's largest publicly traded companies on eight indicators covering energy, greenhouse gases, water, waste, fines and penalties, linking executive pay to sustainability targets, board-level committee oversight of environmental issues and third-party audits. Ranking methodology by Corporate Knights and HIP Investor.
Source: Newsweek (2017)

> About the Icons

Company Details

Type Public company
Revenue US$32.8 billion in 2018
Employees 93,516 in 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


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