Company History and Expansion
- Founded in 1902 by five businessmen in Two Harbors, Minnesota
- Initially focused on mining corundum, but failed due to lack of commercial value
- Co-founder John Dwan secured funds and new leadership took over in 1905
- Company moved to Duluth and began producing sandpaper products
- Achieved financial stability in 1916 and paid dividends
- Acquired Meguiars, a car-care products company, in 2008
- Purchased Cogent Systems and Arizant Inc. in 2010
- Completed the acquisition of the Winterthur Technology Group in 2011
- Bought the Office and Consumer Products Division of Avery Dennison in 2012 (later canceled)
- Acquired Scott Safety from Johnson Controls International Plc in 2017
- Reported net sales of $31.657 billion in 2017
- Appointed Michael F. Roman as CEO in 2018
- Acquired the technology business of M*Modal in 2018
- Merged its food-safety business with Neogen in 2021, forming a new company
- 3M's Hutchinson facility announced a $70 million expansion in 2014
- 3M's Springfield, Missouri plant announced a $40 million expansion project in 2017
- 3M's Ames plant received funding for expansions in 2013 and 2018
- 3M expanded a factory in Woodlands, Singapore in 2011
- 3M announced a major expansion of the Tuas plant in Singapore in 2016

Products and Innovations
- 3M produces approximately 60,000 products as of 2019
- 3M has four business groups focused on safety and industrial, transportation and electronics, health care, and consumer products
- Developed the first asthma inhaler in the late 1950s
- Introduced the 3M Digital Audio Mastering System for digital audio recordings
- Acquired Comtal, a manufacturer of digital image processors
- Launched Post-Its, a popular sticky note product, in 1979
- Continued innovation in various fields, such as healthcare software and optical films
- Post-it Notes: Introduced in 1980 and became a popular office supply worldwide
- Scotch Tape: One of the most recognized adhesive tape brands
- N95 Respirators: Developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Command Hooks: Adhesive hooks for damage-free hanging
- Scotchgard: Stain and water repellent for fabrics and carpets

Environmental and Sustainability Initiatives
- 3M's Pollution Prevention Pays (3P) program was established in 1975
- The program initially focused on pollution reduction at the plant level
- It was expanded to promote recycling and reduce waste across all divisions in 1989
- Approximately 2,500 3P projects decreased the company's total global pollutant generation by 50 percent
- The company saved $500-600 million by eliminating waste requiring subsequent treatment
- Committed to sustainability and reducing environmental impact
- Implemented renewable energy solutions and formed a renewable energy division
- Faced lawsuits and criticism over perfluorochemical (PFC) pollution
- Invested in research and development of sustainable products and technologies
- Received recognition for sustainability efforts, including being listed on Dow Jones Sustainability Index

Financial Performance and Market Presence
- Employs approximately 93,000 people worldwide
- Generates annual revenue of over $30 billion
- Listed on the Fortune 500 as one of the largest U.S. companies
- Experienced fluctuations in stock prices and financial performance over the years
- Operates in over 70 countries with a strong global presence
- Continues to invest in research and development to drive innovation
- Engages in strategic restructuring to adapt to market changes and optimize operations

Corporate Responsibility and Controversies
- Reached a $10.3 billion settlement with numerous US public water systems over PFAS contamination
- 3M's carbon footprint: Reported Total CO2e emissions of 5,280 Kt for the twelve months ending December 31, 2020
- Plans to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030 from a 2019 base year
- Aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050
- N95 Respirators and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Developed the N95 respirator mask in 1972 and faced supply shortages during the pandemic
- Faced criticism and lawsuits over perfluorinated chemicals (PFC) pollution
- 3M agreed to pay $9.1 million to the US government to resolve allegations related to earplugs
- Reached a $850 million settlement in the Minnesota water pollution case in 2018
- The EPA began investigating perfluorinated chemicals in 1999
- Perfluorinated compounds produced by 3M have been used in non-stick cookware and stain-resistant fabrics