3M environmental performance report released to public

The 3M manufacturing plant in Nevada released its annual environmental performance report on Wednesday. The report outlines voluntary progress made as part of the facility's membership in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Environmental Performance Track program. The membership recognizes 3M's commitment to exceeding environmental protection requirements, both historically and in the future.

Performance Track companies and facilities have strong records of environmental management and exceed regulatory requirements for waste recycling and air and water pollution reduction. 3M Nevada, Mo., is one of only 300 businesses and facilities nationwide recognized as a member of the program.

"All of us at 3M Nevada are proud of membership to the National Environmental Performance Track Program. We take our environmental responsibilities very seriously and our employees work very hard each day on continuous environmental improvement. This commitment is evident in the voluntary progress that we've made toward reducing our impact on the environment," said Dave Clauss, 3M Nevada, Mo. plant manager.

The Performance Track program rewards companies that have established their own environmental management systems, have voluntarily reduced pollution and have made commitments to further environmental improvements. Companies receiving the designation benefit from regulatory and administrative flexibility, more cooperation with the EPA and reduced record keeping and reporting.

In 2005, 3M Nevada committed to reduce energy consumption, solid waste generation, hazardous waste generation and the use of greenhouse gas producing chemicals over the period of 2005 to 2007.

The 2005 performance report indicates that energy consumption was reduced 6.9 percent, solid waste generation reduced by 14.2 percent, hazardous waste generation was reduced 6.9 percent and the use of greenhouse gas producing chemicals reduced by more than 2 tons on a production normalized basis. A complete copy of the report is available online at: http://www.epa.gov/performancetrack/particip/alphabet.htm. Please contact the plant environmental specialist, Ed Fletchall, at (417) 667-7851 for a hard copy of the report.

In addition to Performance Track, 3M Nevada has continued to make valuable contributions to 3M's overall environmental performance. Specifically, under the corporate wide program, called Pollution Prevention Pays or the 3P program, 3M Nevada has submitted four projects that were recognized by the company. The result is the prevention of 488 tons of solid waste, the saving of 1,095 MM BTU's of energy and the prevention of 4 tons of air pollution per year. On a corporate basis, 3P has generated more than 6,000 projects that have resulted in the savings of more that 2.5 billion pounds of pollution per year and a savings of more than $1 billion to the company.

The 3M Nevada facility produces an array of graphics products for the global graphics industry. These products include decorative and specialty films for architectural, sign, fleet, commercial and automotive applications. The site has 650 employees.

Every day, 3M people find new ways to make amazing things happen. Wherever they are, whatever they do, the company's customers know they can rely on 3M to help make their lives better.

3M's brands include icons such as Scotch-Print, Scotchcal, Post-it, Scotchgard, Thinsulate, Scotch-Brite, Filtrete, Command and Nexcare. Serving customers in more than 200 countries around the world, the company's 67,000 people use their expertise, technologies and global strength to lead in major markets including consumer and office; display and graphics; electronics and telecommunications; safety, security and protection services; health care; industrial and transportation.