3M Commercial Graphics Reflects 3M Corporate Commitment to Sustainability

For more than 70 years, 3M has been developing thousands of products and solutions for reducing its impact on the environment, while conserving energy and resources. 3M defines sustainability as "Meeting the needs of society today, while respecting the ability of future generations to meet their needs." This approach to sustainability has enabled 3M to be competitive and profitable and also a responsible citizen. Not only is sustainability an integral part of maintaining ethical business conduct for 3M, it is a natural extension of 3M's values.

3M's commitment to sustainable products and services offers substantial long-term environmental benefits, including lowering energy costs, cutting long-term operational costs, helping alleviate pollution and future cleanup costs and improving compliance with national and international regulatory standards. In recognition of this commitment, 3M is consistently included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, which tracks the performance of the leading sustainability-driven companies worldwide. Significant 3M accomplishments include:

• Since 1990, 3M has reduced volatile air emissions by 96 percent
• Since 1990, 3M has reduced waste indexed to net sales by 68 percent
• Since 1998, 3M has reduced energy use indexed to net sales by 27 percent
• Since 1990, 3M has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 77 percent
• Since 1975, 3M has prevented over 127 million pounds of water releases

3M Commercial Graphics is an invaluable part of the 3M corporate sustainability initiatives and is actively working to reduce environmental impacts as it designs and produces products for signs, graphics and interior environments. By investing in new film, ink, light management and illumination technologies, 3M is able to offer product portfolios that can offer environmental advantages over many traditional products.

"3M has a longstanding commitment to sustainability," said Mike Kesti, laboratory manager for 3M Commercial Graphics, leader of 3M's Non-PVC Business Opportunity Team and board member of the Signage Foundation, Inc. "We make a difference by offering our customers materials for efficiently producing high quality, durable graphics with minimal waste."

These materials include 3M's non-PVC inkjet films and overlaminates, which are made with solvent-free processes, as well as its UV-curable, solvent-free ink portfolio and energy efficient light management films.

"3M continues to make significant, ongoing investments in our existing products as well to ensure that they are made by more sustainable methods," said Kesti. "In addition to the development of environmentally preferred packaging, 3M has reformulated more than 250 standard and special-order colored films to eliminate lead chromate pigments and has significantly reduced annual solvent and energy usage at our manufacturing facilities."

Below is a list of 3M products with environmental advantages:

• 3M Light Enhancement Film 3635-100
• 3M Flexible Light Mat 3635-1000
• 3M Vikuiti Rear Projection Films
• 3M Controltac Graphic Films with Comply Adhesive 3545C, IJ35E and 3M Scotchcal Overlaminates 8908 and 8909
• 3M Wall Decorating Film IJ86E
• 3M Scotchcal Translucent Graphic Films
• 3M Scotchcal and Controltac Graphic Films, Opaque
• 3M Piezo Inkjet UV Inks
• 3M Screen Printing UV Ink Series 9800 and 3M Screen Printing Gloss Clear 9720UV and 9720i
• 3M Scotchlite Removable Reflective Graphic Film with Comply Adhesive Series 680CR
• 3M Scotchcal ElectroCut Graphic Film
• 3M Uniform Lighting Panels
• 3M Controltac Graphic Film Series 180 and 3M Scotchcal Overlaminate 639