3M Forward highlights major global trends – how 3M materials science innovations help the world build a brighter future
Published on : Saturday 27-05-2023
Scientific innovations are in demand as the world responds to climate change and resource scarcity, shifting demographics and social change.
St Paul, Minn., May 2023 – 3M Forward is a program that highlights how materials science-based innovation at scale can help society progress amid three unstoppable forces shaping our planet: climate change and resource scarcity, shifting demographics and social change and convergence of the physical and digital worlds. As part of 3M Forward, 3M scientists, engineers and experts share how their solutions are helping to build a brighter future.
The global forces highlighted within 3M Forward are disruptive in nature, but we see them as catalysts for new advances in science and positive societal impact, said Mark Copman, 3M senior vice president, new growth ventures. Science has the potential to solve the toughest global challenges, and 3M's diverse global portfolio and vast expertise make us optimally positioned to imagine what's possible and build what's next.
Increasing rates of global development and decreasing levels of natural resources have contributed to negatively impacting the environment and accelerating global climate change. Without swift solutions, the effects of climate change will continue to hit vulnerable people, economies and ecosystems—while expanding into new geographies. According to the 3M State of Science Index, original third party research conducted by Ipsos, 93% of people globally are concerned about the consequences of climate change and 90% believe science can help minimize its effects.
We see the broadening consensus for climate action and growing demand for innovative and sustainable solutions reaching an inflection point, said Gayle Schueller, 3M senior vice president and chief sustainability officer. Our robust innovation pipeline allows us—and our customers—to accelerate and scale up existing science-based solutions in the critical areas of decarbonisation, energy transition and circular economy.
One way 3M is accelerating the delivery of new climate solutions to contribute to a low carbon economy is through collaborations, reflected in the company's recent partnership announcement with Svante. 3M and Svante will collaborate to develop Direct Air Capture (DAC) products for sale to the Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) industry. Additionally, the company is developing an innovative 3M™ Nanostructured Supported Iridium Catalyst Powder that could make the production of green hydrogen more cost-effective, efficient and obtainable – thereby enabling a more sustainable fuel solution for manufacturing and industries where electrification is difficult, such as long-haul trucking or steelmaking. 3M is also scaling global availability and applications for its existing portfolio of climate solutions, which are creating energy-efficient homes and businesses, reducing raw material use and waste, optimising electric vehicles and modernizing the grid to integrate renewable power generation in markets around the world.