Stakeholder engagement

Every other year starting in 2014, 3M has commissioned an independent research consultancy to help us better understand our stakeholders’ perspectives on key issues and assess our corporate reputation and leadership opportunities. 

The 2022 materiality assessment defined our current priority topics from two angles, called “double materiality.” It assessed how environmental and social issues impact 3M’s financial performance and value, as well as how 3M’s activities impact a broad range of stakeholders. The assessment also explored stakeholder perceptions of our sustainability strategy and its three pillars: Science for Circular, Science for Climate, and Science for Community.  

Stakeholders included customers, employees, suppliers, NGOs, corporate/private sector, academics, consultants, government, media, finance, trade associations, and think tanks, and they represented 3M’s four business groups and all areas of operation.  

We analyzed the insights and inputs from the assessment and developed our sustainability priority matrix. The matrix shows our priority topics and demonstrates how our sustainability goals align with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).