3M to stop using “forever chemicals” in its packaging

3M, a multinational producer of packaging products like packing tape, Post-it notes, and waterproof coatings have announced that it will stop producing and using so-called “forever chemicals,” which are regular substances that have been connected to health issues like cancer and environmental dangers.

3M has made the same commitment as businesses like Gore-Tex to remove PFCs from the life cycle of their consumer fabric products.

Many of 3M’s coatings-related products, such as those used to waterproof garments, contain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds), which have been discovered at harmful proportions in soil, water, food, and even the human body. PFAS do not degrade in typical environmental conditions. Campaigners have pushed for alternatives in the food business where dangerous chemicals were used to create non-stick pans.

According to the BBC, 3M will honor contracts up until the end of 2025, when it will phase out the chemicals. It will necessitate the calibration or re-formulation of thousands of commercial and consumer items using new materials.

The company declared that by taking these two steps, “3M is committing to develop toward a world less dependent upon PFAS.”

Two PFAS were phased out of use earlier in the 2000s, according to 3M. According to the BBC, sales of “forever chemicals” account for about 1.3 billion dollars in sales annually or less than 5% of the company’s total revenue.

3M is establishing itself as a pioneer in more environmentally friendly packaging solutions by aligning with consumer and environmental attitudes.