Better Health for All

3M's Health Care Business Group committed to addressing health care disparities for historically marginalized communities, focusing on social determinants of health.

In 2020, 3M collaborated with a Minnesota coalition to expand Medicaid dental care access, securing $120 million in funding and expanding care by 15-20% for the Medicaid population. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 3M quadrupled monthly U.S. N95 respirator production to over 95 million units, allocating the majority to healthcare and public health workers. The company also collaborated with the U.S. government to distribute N95s to address gaps in underserved communities, including rural and minority areas. 3M organized vaccination clinics for employees and provided paid time off for COVID-19 vaccinations. Additionally, 3M launched a Social Determinants of Health Analytics platform in 2021 and initiated a Health Care Virtual Pro Bono Program, engaging 100 employees to support nonprofits and community health organizations in improving healthcare access. A national study by 3M Health Information Systems identified healthcare delivery disparities for Medicare beneficiaries in low socioeconomic areas.

Fair Money & Economic Opportunity

3M Company operates within the industrial conglomerates sector, focusing on manufacturing and technological innovations rather than direct financial services.

As such, it does not offer lending, deposit, or consumer credit products. Consequently, all KPIs related to financial products and services, including underserved client share, pricing fairness, exploitative fee exposure, inclusion initiatives, data accessibility, fair lending compliance, wealth building outcomes, profit reinvestment, financial literacy initiatives, debt burden ratio, geographic inclusion, and product simplicity, are not applicable to 3M's core business model and are scored 0. This aligns with the specific 0-tier definitions for each KPI, which state 'not applicable' or 'no such products/services offered' for non-financial firms. While 3M has made investments in racial equity, workforce development, and supplier diversity programs, these initiatives do not fall under the scope of 'community finance' or direct financial services as defined by this ethical value.

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

In the past three years (2023-2025), 3M incurred 12 substantiated workplace safety or health violations.

These include two employee fatalities in 2022 and 2023, with OSHA citing the company for two willful offenses in November 2023 related to one of these deaths. The CEO to median employee pay ratio was 369 to 1. Approximately one-fourth of the global employee workforce is represented by collective labor organizations or representative bodies. The company has achieved gender pay parity in every country where it operates. The total employee turnover rate was 14.9%.

Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing

No substantiated forced or child labor findings have been reported for 3M in the last three years. While allegations of Chinese prison labor surfaced in 2018, 3M stated it had no knowledge of such practices and initiated an investigation

, with no outcome provided. In 2024, shareholder concerns were raised regarding human rights in Chinese operations . The company's Supplier Responsibility Code requires adherence to labor standards . 3M also implements a due diligence system for responsible minerals sourcing, aligning with OECD guidelines , and engaged with suppliers covering over 80% of its in-scope group for 3TG minerals in 2023 , utilizing third-party audits to ensure conflict-free sourcing .

Honest & Fair Business

In June 2023, 3M agreed to pay over $10 billion to settle claims related to PFAS contamination in U.S. water systems

, having continued production despite knowing the health risks . In August 2023, the company settled charges of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, agreeing to pay over $6.5 million after a subsidiary in China arranged leisure trips for Chinese officials . Despite these significant penalties, 3M was recognized as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Institute in March 2023 for the tenth consecutive year .

Kind to Animals

3M is not certified cruelty-free by any organizations, including PETA or Leaping Bunny

, and is listed by PETA for conducting animal testing. The company has an "Animal Welfare in Testing and Research Policy" that adheres to the principles of replacement, reduction, and refinement , , conducting animal studies only when deemed necessary and scientifically justified, particularly where legally mandated. , Animal testing is not used for quality control evaluation. 3M advocates for and uses non-animal testing methods when possible , including computational toxicology and in vitro models such as BCOP, Corrositex™ Assays, and cultured human skin and lung tissue. 3M's internal research facility has been fully accredited by AAALAC since 1966 and is routinely inspected by the USDA , operating in compliance with the Animal Welfare Act. , The company actively participates in multiple collaborative initiatives to develop and advocate for alternative testing methods , including partnerships with contract research organizations , the Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing , and a collaboration with PETA International Science Consortium Ltd. to produce a webinar series promoting non-animal testing methods.

No War, No Weapons

3M Company initiated payments in 2024 as part of a $6 billion settlement to U.S. military veterans who claimed its Combat Arms Earplugs, used between 2003 and 2015, caused hearing loss and tinnitus

, . The settlement, agreed upon in August 2023, includes $5 billion in cash and $1 billion in stock, with full disbursement expected by 2029 , . 3M maintains the earplugs are safe when used correctly and denies liability , . The company has also engaged in other military contracts, including a $1.6 million contract in 2017 for protective headsets for the U.S. Army , a $92.7 million contract in 2016 for 177,000 body armor plates for the U.S. military , and an $80 million contract in 2013 for 77,000 combat helmets for the U.S. Marine Corps . In November 2020, 3M Health Information Systems was awarded a contract to implement computer-assisted coding technology for the U.S. Department of Defense's Military Health System . In 2020, 3M completed the sale of its advanced ballistic-protection business, which included ballistic helmets and body armor, for $91 million to Avon Rubber, following a decision to divest in 2019 , .

Planet-Friendly Business

3M has faced significant environmental compliance challenges, including a $10.3 billion settlement in June 2023

and a $450 million settlement in May 2025 for PFAS water contamination claims . Additionally, in October 2024, the company agreed to pay a $125,900 civil penalty for alleged violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act . The company achieved 56.2% global renewable electricity use .

Respect for Cultures & Communities

3M has actively engaged in protecting culturally significant lands, notably through a partnership with the Tsay Keh Dene First Nation in British Columbia, Canada.

This collaboration has supported the protection of 110,535 hectares of critical cultural and ecological land and involved funding satellite monitoring to prevent undesirable activities in a 3.2 million-hectare forest area. The company's Forest Products Sourcing Policy, developed in collaboration with the Earthworm Foundation, emphasizes responsible sourcing that protects Indigenous rights. 3M has established at least three formal partnerships with indigenous or local community groups, including the Tsay Keh Dene Nation, Earthworm Foundation, and Actua. Since 2021, 3M Canada has contributed $165,000 to the InSTEM program, which integrates traditional Indigenous knowledge with modern science for Indigenous youth. An Indigenous Employee Resource Network was established in 2020 by 3M Canada to support Indigenous employees and communities, offering educational seminars on residential school history. The company's Human Rights Policy, aligned with the UN Global Compact since 2014, commits to respecting human rights and principles of due diligence. In 2023, 3M invested $13.1 million towards diverse-serving organizations, focusing on community resilience and racial equity.

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

3M has a long-standing commitment to waste reduction, evidenced by its Pollution Prevention Pays program, which has prevented nearly 2.99 million short tons of pollution over 49 years.

The company has implemented numerous waste reduction initiatives, including eliminating over 105 metric tons of plastic from respirator packaging, reducing 22.7 metric tons of paperboard by redesigning abrasive rolls, and converting 10 metric tons of plastic to recyclable material in other products. Packaging redesigns also led to a reduction of 5,400 wooden pallets and 104 trucks for Filtrete products, and a reduction of 18.9 metric tons of paper and 1 metric ton of plastic for VHB Tapes. 3M's chemical operations are verified to the global Responsible Care® standard by third-party audit, indicating excellent hazardous waste management. The company has set company-wide waste reduction targets, including achieving “zero landfill” status at more than 30 percent of manufacturing sites by 2025 and reducing the use of virgin fossil-based plastic in packaging and products by 125 million pounds by the end of 2025. Furthermore, 3M requires a Sustainability Value Commitment for all new products introduced since 2019, and its packaging engineers utilize a toolkit to integrate circularity into product and packaging design.