3M is pleased to be recognized with the Market Trailblazer Award from RE100, a global initiative bringing together the world’s most influential businesses committed to 100% renewable power. The award was announced during Climate Week NYC and celebrates RE100 companies who are committed to driving market change, communicating transparently about the barriers they face, and collaborating with companies, utilities and governments to drive change.
“We are incredibly proud to receive this award and even prouder to report we are approaching 50% renewable electricity use in our global operations,” said Gayle Schueller, 3M senior vice president and chief sustainability officer. “3M greatly appreciates the employees and utility partners whose efforts have accelerated our transition to renewable. Especially during Climate Week, we are mindful that we need to do more in our operations and with partners to advance climate solutions—and we are committed to doing so.”
In 2015, 3M set a goal for 25% renewable electricity use in its operations, which it quickly achieved within three years. As a result, the company set a more ambitious goal of 50% by 2025—the halfway point of its commitment to achieve 100% by 2050. As it prepares to achieve 50% renewable electricity use more than four years early, 3M credits its accelerated progress to increased investment in renewable electricity sourcing and collaborative direct sourcing solutions with municipal utilities.
“We're delighted to announce 3M as the winner of the RE100 Market Trailblazer Award at this year's RE100 Leadership Awards,” said Sam Kimmins, Head of RE100 at Climate Group. “They have shown leadership through their collaborative solutions approach which has allowed them to overcome the challenges of sourcing renewables for rural locations in North America. Congratulations 3M on this fantastic achievement!”
Recent examples of 3M’s collaborative efforts to advance renewable energy can be found at its facilities in Brookings, South Dakota, and Hutchinson, Minnesota. To transition these locations, 3M’s energy sourcing team worked with the local utilities to find and enable access to wind- and solar-generated power. In addition to benefitting 3M, these customized programs created the opportunity for local businesses to make the renewable transition.
“Hutchinson Utilities Commission, in partnership with 3M, recognizes the value and significant impact of moving Hutchinson, Minnesota, towards a more sustainable future by collaborating to provide 100% renewable clean energy to 3M,” said Jeremy Carter, General Manager for Hutchinson Utilities Commission. “This partnership highlights 3M’s exceptional efforts to make real impacts on climate change locally while also being a leader for change in the community. Hutchinson Utilities Commission had an incredibly positive experience working with 3M on this partnership which is a true testament to the collaboration that can be achieved between public and private business.”
At locations that have not yet fully transitioned to renewable power, 3M is working to source alternative forms of energy. For example, it recently invested in multiple on-site solar array installations to help power manufacturing facilities in California, Singapore, and Mexico. In California, these arrays provide approximately 20% of the electrical power required by the plant; in Singapore, approximately 8.5%; and in Mexico, approximately 20%.
To learn more about 3M’s sustainability goals and progress, visit 3M.com/Sustainability
