EXECUTIVE INSIGHT
“ What I love about the Sustainability Value Commitment is it ’ s not about checking a box – it ’ s about how you can be creative and innovative ”
a need for something that was sticky to control paint when they wanted to make two-tone cars .
We realised that , if we didn ’ t put abrasive particles on the sandpaper , we had a sticky surface – and that ’ s how we invented masking tape . That led to all kinds of tapes and films , then to nonwoven technologies .
The technologies that came from the backing are now being used to create innovative solutions including products in greenhouses for energy efficiency and productivity . There ’ s so much happening in a great intersection of technologies to provide the materials solutions that are needed for a more sustainable world .
Q . WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE GREATEST CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE ROLE THAT YOU HAVE ?
» I often say that this is a bimodal kind of job . You can be super excited about the things that you ’ ve done , but just look in the other direction and realise how
much more there is to do . There are tremendous challenges in this space , whether it ’ s climate change and carbon emissions , or advancing a global circular economy , or driving progress to reduce the consumption of virgin fossil fuel-based plastics , or the water circularity challenge .
With 3M , we work on carbon , we work on water , we work on plastics . We also need to recognise that there ’ s very much a social challenge that we face around the world . We focus on having equity across our organisation , but also in the communities where we live and work .
Q . HOW DOES 3M DRIVE SUSTAINABILITY ACROSS THE BUSINESS ?
» I ’ m fortunate to have a team that has executive-level representatives for each
116 February 2025