Circularity
Advancing the circular economy
We’re committed to designing circularity into 3M products and packaging while also enhancing the circularity of water and waste in our operations. We see the circular economy as an opportunity to use resources more efficiently and drive product innovation, contributing to a sustainable future and resilient business growth.
Reusable, renewable, and recycled materials
We continue to develop products and packaging that are reusable, recyclable, or made with more renewable or recycled material. To facilitate recycling, we strive to use only one material when possible. To help keep materials in play, we design products for durability and create products that can refurbish structural surfaces, delaying the need for replacement.
3M™ DI-NOC™ Architectural Finishes can contribute to LEED credits by maintaining existing walls, doors, frames, and built-ins with innovative finishes that keep them in use longer.
Packaging
3M’s packaging sustainability design principles prioritize product protection, efficient and minimal packaging, and circularity. Our packaging engineers combine their knowledge with use of design tools to balance performance with environmental impact in our packaging materials.
For example:
- Reducing materials and air space
- Designing for reusability and recyclability
- Increasing recycled content
- Transitioning to renewable materials
In 2025, integration of our design principles led to results such as:
- In North America, we removed plastic HDPE end plugs and corrugated pads from various 3M™ Air and Vapor Barrier products, resulting in a reduction of 4 metric tons of plastic and 1 metric ton of corrugated material. The new design allows for a smaller corrugated shipper box, which saved another 2 metric tons of corrugated material.
- In Europe, we redesigned the wooden pallets for our abrasive rolls to support double and triple stacking instead of just one layer. In the second half of 2025, this eliminated the need for 410 pallets and took 12 transport trailer vehicles off the road. We project savings of over 1,000 pallets and more than 30 transport trailer vehicles annually.
- In the last half of 2025 in Europe, we reduced the corrugated packaging for various online 3M Command™ Hook products by 30-50%, eliminating the use of 9.41 metric tons of corrugated material and the need for 356 pallets. This led to taking an estimated 11 transport trucks off the road. We project annual savings of more than 18 metric tons of corrugated material, 850 pallets, and 25 transport trucks.
- In Asia-Pacific, we redesigned the thickness and width of the top deck boards on wooden pallets used to transport products, eliminating the need for over 6,300 pallets.
- In Latin America, we lightweighted the corrugated and paperboard primary cartons used for 3M Earplugs, eliminating 7.5 metric tons of packaging material in the latter part of 2025, with estimated annual savings of 18 metric tons.
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Pollution program
An industry first, 3M’s Pollution Prevention Program, developed in 1975, is based on the belief that preventing pollution is more environmentally effective than treatment. In the last 50 years, the program has prevented over 3.30 million short tons of pollution, based on aggregated data from the first year of each project.
Water
At 3M, we strive to use technology and expertise to promote a future of “water circularity” — a future where water stress is reduced, resources are circulated, and nature is regenerated. Through collaboration and application of 3M technology, we’re working to improve the availability and quality of water associated with our operations. We recognize that reducing water consumption and improving water quality in our operations are important elements of our environmental stewardship at a local level.
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Engaging in our communities
Engaging globally serves communities locally, and 3M is focused on both spaces. Through our role as a member of the Water Resilience Coalition, we’re committed to accelerating solutions to global water challenges and finding opportunities for collaboration.
