Manufacturing company 3M announced a policy change today that aims to ensure its pulp and paper suppliers are doing their best to preserve the environment by only providing materials from protected forests.  

The maker of Post-Its and Scotch Tape announced the policy change as part of an agreement between the company and one of its longtime critics, ForestEthics.

Under the new sourcing policy, 3M will require that all wood fiber supplied to the company is not linked to deforestation or illegal operations.

The policy also requires protection of high carbon stock forests and high conservation values, like intact forest landscapes, peatlands and the habitat of endangered species, the company says in a statement.

In addition to providing protections for the environment, 3M says the new policy sets strong standards related to social concerns, including respect for workers’ rights and indigenous peoples’ rights to free, prior and informed consent to operations on their traditional lands.

All paper-based products and packaging suppliers are required to now provide information on the original forest sources of the pulp.

“The first strategic decision we made in drafting this policy was to focus on defining clearly for our suppliers our own values and requirements related to the protection of forests and vulnerable people,” Jean Sweeney, vice president of 3M Environmental,Health, Safety and Sustainability Operations says in a statement. “We are taking responsibility for making sure our pulp and paper suppliers meet the requirements of the policy, and help them to raise their performance if necessary.”

In creating the policy, 3M began meeting months ago with frequent critic ForestEthics.

According to the Star Tribune, the environmental critic helped to stage protests against the manufacturing company, including demonstrations outside the Major League Baseball All-Star Game near 3M’s headquarters in Minnesota.

“3M had the vision and the commitment back in the 1970’s to endeavor to address its climate impact, and they did so with great effect,” Todd Paglia, executive director, ForestEthics, said in a statement. “The policy announced today is industry-leading, and represents exactly the type of innovation that 3M is known for.”

Implementation of the new policy will include more than 70 countries and 5,000 pulp and paper suppliers, each with their own manufacturing facilities and supply chains, 3M says.

3M Releases Revised Paper Policy Providing Leading-Edge Protection for Forests, Endangered Species, and Forest Communities Worldwide [3M]
Twin Cities-area 3M won’t buy paper sources that come from threatened forests under new policy [Star Tribune]

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