3M is acting to address PFAS

3M announced in December 2022 it would take two further actions with respect to PFAS: exiting all PFAS manufacturing by the end of 2025 and working to discontinue the use of PFAS across its product portfolio by the end of 2025. 3M completed its exit of PFAS manufacturing at the end of 2025. 3M will continue to take actions to address PFAS manufactured prior to the exit. For example, the Company's water treatment assets at facilities that manufactured PFAS will continue to treat PFAS from historical manufacturing activities and remediate residual PFAS in waste streams from the Company's operations.

How we’re addressing legacy PFAS

3M committed to investing more than $1 billion globally to achieve our corporate environmental goals, which include reducing our facilities’ overall water use and installing water treatment technologies at our largest water-using locations.

3M’s team of engineers, scientists, and other experts continue to carefully evaluate, install, and operate advanced water treatment technologies – including those that capture water, filter and remove materials in water, and those that can help us recycle and reuse the amount of water in our operations overall – that can support the facility’s operations and needs.

There are many PFAS reduction technologies available, and the appropriate system is dependent on multiple factors. Some of the technologies include:

• Granular Activated Carbon: This is a proven technology that effectively removes PFAS like PFOA or PFOS from water. It works similarly to home water filters that people may recognize by capturing many PFAS molecules in a carbon filter. These filters may be regenerated for reuse, or if needed, disposed of safely.
• Reverse Osmosis: Reverse osmosis uses a scientifically advanced membrane to separate substances, including PFAS, from water. Water passes through the membrane while PFAS and other materials that may be present do not.
• Ion Exchange: Ion exchange uses a special resin, which is a bead-like material, that captures PFAS from water. When the resin has reached capacity, it can then be regenerated and reused multiple times or safely disposed of if needed.
• Thermal Oxidation: Thermal oxidation refers to pollution control technologies that help prevent air emissions of PFAS, as well as volatile organic compounds and greenhouse gases, using extremely high temperatures to break down molecules. 3M has or is currently installing these technologies at sites around the world, which will help us achieve our goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.