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1999 Winner: 3M NZ
3M New ZealandFor Environmental Management
More than 30 years ago, 3M globally recognised the need to address environmental issues at the corporate level. The commitment to protect the environment was formalised when the board of directors adopted the 3M Environmental Policy in 1975, setting universal standards of operation for continuous improvement in environmental performance.
These achievements include: installation of a $1.3 million solvent recovery system to reduce plant air emission by recovering 90 percent of solvents and then reusing these recovered solvents; a water conservation policy has achieved close to a 65 percent saving in water; a 50 percent reduction in head office power costs by replacing fluorescent tubing; recycling of office waste paper and cardboard, plastics and glass; and, 'The Pallet Programme' that has recycled 80 tonnes of wood in the last 18 months.
3M New Zealand continues to explore ways of reducing, reusing and recycling through its Employee Environmental Action team. In May 1999, the company became an inaugural member of the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development, a group launched to promote environmental and social responsibility as business priorities. A corporate environmental management system which sets out the goals for the year 2000 and beyond has been developed and, as part of it, the company is committed to achieving 14001 EMS accreditation by the year-end 2000.
In winning the award 3M New Zealand has met criteria of: purpose and principles through a clearly documented, ongoing ethical commitment; performance measurement in quantitative and qualitative terms; value added to the company, shareholders and other stakeholders; and, innovation towards a triple bottom line of environmental, social and financial wealth creation.
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