3M science drives our business forward

As we advance, we leverage our Technology Platform of Sustainable Design, which features our capability to weave sustainability into the design of our products, processes, and packaging. Ultimately, we deliver science-based solutions and innovative growth platforms that help move us, our customers, and the world toward a more sustainable future.

3M uses and combines our technologies in unique ways across the company, creating new products and new lines of business. As we do this, we strive to ensure all 3M products entering the new product commercialization process have a Sustainability Value Commitment that demonstrates how the product drives impact for the greater good. Since 2019, 100% of our projects entering the new product commercialization process have included an SVC as required by our SVC sustainability goal.

Additional information

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Innovation management

A culture of innovation

For over 120 years, 3M has been a company founded and built on innovation. Prioritization of our customers often drives this innovation: We apply our skills and perspectives to create solutions customized to their needs and designed hand in hand with them.

A modern building features large glass windows that reflect the surrounding architecture and greenery.

3M's 15% Culture allows employees to spend 15% of their time on projects they choose in support of our business objectives. This has led to products like our innovative window films, which help buildings save energy and improve safety and security.

Learn more about 3M™ Window Films

Recognition for outstanding results

3M’s Circle of Technical Excellence & Innovation

This prestigious internal recognition program honors individuals and teams whose achievements set the standard for 3M technical excellence and innovation.
The Carlton Society

This is 3M’s highest recognition of lifetime achievement for scientists who have made extraordinary contributions. The annual awards ceremony is an opportunity to stay connected with the innovators and breakthrough achievements that built and grew 3M.

Our product innovation takes the long view

At 3M, we strive to create products with demonstrated environmental performance across their entire life cycle, including product reuse and repurposing. We work with our suppliers and partners to support these objectives in their own operations.

Life cycle management
Life cycle management (LCM) is our approach to integrating environment, health, and safety (EHS) and associated regulatory considerations into 3M products through our New Product Introduction (NPI) process.

During NPI, our business teams provide LCM deliverables including:
- EHS evaluation of product characteristics and raw material composition, including the need for alternatives
- Assessments in human health and environmental toxicology, electrical and mechanical safety, and other disciplines as appropriate
- Conformance to regulatory and customer EHS requirements
- Hazard communication documents
We also evaluate LCM impacts from product modifications (changes to raw materials, suppliers, product composition, regulations, new end uses, etc.) through our corporate Product Change Management process. If needed, we update subject matter expert assessments and LCM documentation and communicate the updates to all importing countries.

Our integrated centralized LCM system helps us continually improve our efficiency as we work to ensure our products are safe and compliant wherever they’re sold. The system features outcome-based key performance indicators to help us better measure our processes.

Learn more in 3M’s 2025 Global Impact Report (PDF, 9.5 MB)
Download our nonfinancial metrics (XLSX, 1.3 MB)

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