Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP), a non-profit organisation providing sustainability certification in the graphic communications industry, has welcomed 3M Commercial Graphics as its newest Platinum Patron. Minnesota-based 3M is a technology and product leader in the large format graphic materials industry.
"We recognise that what's good for the environment can also be good for business," states Jean Sweeney, Vice President of 3M's Environmental, Health, and Safety Operations. "Our sustainability efforts are focused both on reducing our environmental footprint and growing 3M through the creation of products that help our customers address their sustainability challenges."
"I am pleased to provide support to SGP at the Platinum Patron level," comments Bob Doughty, Vice President and General Manager, 3M Commercial Graphics Division. "This investment is well-aligned with our long-standing commitment to sustainability and with our reputation for providing the industry with the best and most innovative large format graphic products. SGP helps provide a framework for sustainable innovations to our industry that benefits 3M and our customers."
"Adding 3M to the SGP community sends a strong message that sustainability is now the norm for the graphic communications industry," states Marci Kinter, SGP Chairman of the Board. "And the support of innovative industry leaders like 3M helps to secure SGP's role in the sustainability framework for our industry sector. We look forward to working with 3M, and to their participation in the future development of the SGP program."
Three Strategic Principles
3M's sustainability work is guided by three strategic principles: economic success, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility. The company builds lasting customer relations by developing differentiated, practical, and ingenious solutions to sustainability challenges. 3M uses life-cycle management tools to evaluate a product's environmental impact prior to product launch, and it continuously improves on products and processes through both innovation and Six Sigma principles. Its employees engage in dialogue about sustainability and take action to improve the company's performance.
Environmentally Preferred
3M Commercial Graphics has many highly durable and flexible UV-curable inkjet inks that have low VOC content. It offers non-PVC film options in its intermediate and premium product lines. The company also concentrates on environmentally preferred packaging, including a boxless packaging initiative (which reduces packaging waste such as boxes and endplugs) and a recycled resin endplug initiative. To date, 3M employees have completed 8,600 projects that have resulted in the elimination of more than 3 billion pounds of pollution and saved the company nearly $1.4 billion.