3M highlights sustainability achievements in new report for 2014

3M has released its annual Sustainability Report for 2014, outlining the progress it has made towards achieving its environmental and social responsibility goals.

Highlights include its success in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 57 percent between 2002 and 2013, while it now recycles or reuses approximately 50 percent of total waste generated annually.

It has also put in place water conservation plans for 3M sites located in water-scarce regions, while establishing a Sustainability Center of Excellence to accelerate the integration of sustainability into business strategies across the company.

The firm was also included and recognised by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the 14th consecutive year and made donations of more than $61 million (36.42 million pounds) in cash and products to non-profit organisations in 2013.

Jean Sweeney, vice-president for 3M's environment, health and safety and sustainability operations, said: "Environmental and social considerations – both in our own operations and across our supply chain – have been part of our company's value system from the beginning."

During the first quarter of 2014, the group generated $7.8 billion in sales, marking a record-breaking performance for 3M.