2015-10-14
405
Fellow-students
THE 3M CORPORATION: POLLUTION PREVENTION PAYS (3P)
3M has long been recognized as a leader ________ corporate environmental management and P2. _____ a
1993 Fortune survey, 3M was ranked as the fourth most admired company, and came in first ____ terms
_____ environmental reputation. While most companies have just recently begun formalizing their waste
reduction efforts, 3Mʼs Pollution Prevention Pays (3P) program has been _____ operation _____ 1975. The
three goals of the program are (1) achieve environmental improvement, (2) lower the companyʼs costs, and
(3) provide a means ____ employees ____ all levels to get creatively involved _____ P2. Pollution and waste
are viewed as undesirable not only because of the damage caused ______ the environment, but because
they represent non-productive capital costs and indicate inefficiency. At 3M, all P2 activities (except those
that have been mandated by corporate leaders) must be economically justifiable. Successful programs are
recognized through employee awards.
A main focus of the company’s environmental philosophy is to achieve source reduction ____ product
design. 3M commits about $200 million of its billion- dollar annual research and development budget _____
P2 research. It is continually redesigning products or coming _____ _____ new ones, so that cutting-edge
technologies that reduce toxicity and environmental impacts can be quickly incorporated _____ evolving
product designs.
