3M Embraces Innovation and Social Responsibility

At 3M, a global diversified technology company headquartered in Minnesota, environmental operations manager Paul Narog sees parallels between sustainability and quality.

He believes the same philosophies that drive quality also drive sustainability, which he defines as the interdependence of environmental, social, and economic issues for the long term good of multiple stakeholders.

"It’s all about understanding your stakeholder needs, providing real value, and effectively solving problems," Narog says. "Focusing on the customer, the quality of the product, the associated environmental, health and safety issues, and the needs of the business to be successful – these are not competing issues but rather are related, and all have to happen for the long-term sustainability of a product."

Narog was one of three panelists at a social responsibility session at ASQ’s World Conference on Quality and Improvement in Minneapolis on May 19. The session featured panelists from three Twin Cities area corporations with solid social responsibility credentials. Narog represented 3M on the panel, which also featured representatives from Ecolab Inc. and Target.

At 3M, the corporate social responsibility framework is embedded in the company culture, as seen through their company value statements and the ownership of corporate social responsibility issues by various 3M functions – be it environmental, health and safety management, community affairs, human resources, or the many business and quality functions that market the company’s many products into society.

Employee engagement and awareness around sustainability, encouraging partnerships within the 3M community of employees and retirees, communicating to the public about 3M’s progress, and advancing employee health and safety are some of the many ways in which 3M puts corporate social responsibility into action.

The name 3M is virtually synonymous with innovation. The diversified technology company routinely introduces thousands of new product innovations annually. In total, 3M sells well over 60,000 products in nearly 200 countries.

Narog related a story about a 3M product that was recently reformulated, to illustrate how the company integrates innovative science and technology with social responsibility in its product introductions.

3M marketed a product used to suppress fires in unique structures such as telecommunication centers, museums, and other situations in which a traditional water system would not be acceptable. 

A design goal was to switch to a more environmentally friendly material, but the way to achieve that goal was not immediately clear. "The original product had a high global warming potential and we were interested in designing an alternative that would have less impact on the environment and on society," says Narog.

The company eventually released a new product, NovecTM 1230, a fire protection fluid with a global warming potential of 1, which is 99.9 percent lower than any halocarbon agent acceptable for use in occupied spaces. 

"We were able to bring a product to market that not only has a lower impact on the issue of climate change, but also with a chemistry that is non-ozone depleting and has a very short half-life in the atmosphere – a win/win for the environment, for the company, for the consumer," states Narog.

He says this is an example of 3M’s Life Cycle Management (LCM) approach in practice. LCM is an integral part of 3M’s new product introduction process worldwide. It focuses on the broader impact of products and processes over their entire life cycle, from development and manufacturing, through distribution and customer use, to disposal.

"You can both protect the environment and grow your business," says Narog. "That’s been a constant theme for over 30 years at 3M."

On the community involvement aspect of social responsibility, 3M has a strong track record of giving back to the communities in which it operates. That involvement places a heavy emphasis on health and human services, education and the environment.

One specific environmental example is 3M’s work with The Nature Conservancy for many years. The partnership has led to the conservation of key natural environments through land purchases by The Nature Conservancy in the U.S., Mexico, Brazil and China.

Other examples of 3M’s social responsibility efforts include strong support for the United Way, in-kind product donations during natural disasters, and a very active retiree volunteer program.

"A pro-active approach to corporate social responsibility is an important element of a company’s outreach efforts," Narog says. "It’s a win-win for the company and its employees, the communities in which a company has operations, and society at large."

To learn more about social responsibility at 3M, check out the company’s sustainability report online.