The aim of Knowmore.org is to raise awareness of corporate abuse, and to serve as a catalyst for direct action against corporate power.

Ethical Consumerism is an important movement toward corporate reform, through which individuals recognize their own role in systems of oppression, and take personal steps toward resistance and  positive change.

However, the problem of unchecked corporate power is systemic and goes far beyond the scope of any single boycot or campaign.

Once you've seen enough of Knowmore's data and familiarized yourself with our Issues section, check out our Direct Action page to get involved!

From Knowmore.org

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[edit] Criticisms

[edit] Human Rights

• Global Unions, a consortium of international trade union organizations, has listed 3M as a company involved with Burma. Companies on the Global Unions lists either operate in Burma, have business relations with the country, have been in direct contact with the officials of the regime or promote tourism in the country. Source: Global Unions
  
  See more at: What's Wrong with Doing Business in Burma?

[edit] Business Ethics

• In March 2003 a jury reversed an earlier ruling and found 3M guilty of using monopoly powers over big retailers to 'squeeze out' a smaller competitor. 3M was accused of luring customers away from its competitor LePage by offering bundled rebates that retailers could collect only by meeting sales goals in six categories of 3M product lines. A jury announced a $68.4 million award against 3M. 3M will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the decision. Source: Associated Press, Mar. 26, 2003

[edit] Environmental Concerns

• 3M is among those companies that has supported "pollution secrecy" legislation, which would provide blanket immunity for environmental crimes, no matter how serious, to companies which self-report violations of environmental laws. Any documents related to the self-reporting become officially secret, cannot be divulged to the public, and cannot be used as evidence in any legal proceedings. Environmental and citizen's groups are concerned about the implications of allowing corporations to hide civil and criminal pollution-related misconduct from judges, juries and the public. Companies argue that the laws will encourage them to perform more accurate and thorough environmental audits by removing the threat of liability based on information discovered during the audits. Source: The Planet, January 1997

• The California Integrated Waste Management Board listed 3M as one of four companies that was unable to meet the State's recycled plastic packaging requirements by the end of 2000. Source: Business Wire, October 21, 1999

[edit] Animal Welfare

• As of June 2004, 3M continues to conduct testing on animals. Source: PETA

• 3M is a customer of Huntington Life Sciences, a controversial mulitnational animal research corporation. Source: http://www.shac.net/HLS/clientsA_G.html

[edit] Praise

[edit] Environmental Concerns

• In May 2000, 3M announced that it will stop producing Scotchgard and related products out of concern over the perfluorooctanyl chemistry used to produce them. Tests have shown that perfluorooctanyl builds up in the environment and in human bodies. The move is costing the company about $300 million in annual revenues. The company stated that: "our decision to phase out production is based on our principles of responsible environmental management. We're reallocating resources to accelerate innovation in more sustainable opportunities and technologies. This decision is not only in the public interest, it's in the best interests of all our constituencies -- our employees, customers, communities and investors." Source: Company News Release

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Performance Track has recognized 3M facilities for consistently meeting legal requirements and implementing high-quality environmental management systems. Source: 3M Worldwide, September,2001

• 3M takes part in the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Environmental Performance Track program, which recognizes companies and facilities for efforts to improve their environmental performance beyond legal compliance. As of April 2003 3M had nine facilities in compliance with the National Environmental Track Performance program. Source: EPA

• 3M has agreed to join with international pharmaceutical company Forest Labs, Inc. in manufacturing and supplying inhalers for treating asthma. The companies are collaborating to develop a steroid-based medication to replace Aerobid, which contains chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), substances found to damage the earth's ozone layer. Source: Reuters, December 13, 1999

• 3M has established an Eco-Efficient Packaging initiative to provide reusable packaging for manufacturers and distributors. Source: Plastics News, November 30, 1998

• 3M was awarded the US Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star Partner of the Year Award Winner for Excellence in Energy Management. 3M joined the Energy Star program in 1997, and since 2000, has reduced its energy use by 13.6 percent and energy use per pound of product by 27 percent. During the first three quarters of 2003, 3M's energy management efforts saved 1.5 trillion Btu of energy and approximately $13 million. Source: CSRWire

• 3M is among 500 U.S. companies which have pledged to avoid the use of products made from clear-cut old-growth temperate rainforests and implement a comprehensive program to source responsibly-produced wood products. Source: Forest Ethics

[edit] Business Ethics

• Ethics: 3M ranked 20th on Business Ethics' list of "The 100 Best Corporate Citizens" of 2004. Companies were chosen according to its relations with employees, customers, and the community as well as its commitment to the environment and diversity. Source: Business Ethics

• In 2002 BusinessWeek named 3M as having one of the best corporate boards. The company was cited for having no directors with business ties to the company and just one insider on its nine-member board. Additionally, the audit-committee chairman is the former CFO at Sears. Source: BusinessWeek, Oct. 7, 2002

[edit] Human Rights

• Community Involvement: The 3M Foundation supports educational, cultural, community, health and human service activities in communities where 3M has a major presence. 3M is also one of Minnesota's Top 25 Grantmakers. Source: Star Tribune (Minneapolis), November 16, 1998

• 3M has become a part of the corporate outreach initiative with the Inter-American Foundation. The company joined the alliance, which promotes the principles of democracy and economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean through grassroots development projects. Source: Federal News Service, October 13, 1999

[edit] Workers Rights

• Discrimination: 3M's non-discrimination policy includes sexual orientation. Source: Human Rights Campaign

• 3M has signed the MacBride Principles, a religious non-discrimination code of conduct for companies doing business in Northern Ireland. Source: Irish National Caucus

• 3M is among 32 companies that have filed "friend of the court" briefs in support of the University of Michigan's affirmative action policies. The university's admission process, which considers race as one factor in admissions decisions, is being challenged by two separate court cases, Grutter v. Bollinger (challenging law school admissions) and Gratz v. Bollinger (challenging undergraduate admissions). In their briefs, the companies stressed that a well-educated, racially and ethnically diverse workforce is essential for success in today's global marketplace. Source: PR Newswire, May 31, 2001

• 3M offers adoption benefits to its employees, including monetary assistance and unpaid leave. Source: Minneapolis-St.Paul City Business, April 30, 1999

[edit] Brands & Subsidiaries

• Scotch, Scotch-Brite, Scotchgard, Scotchprint, Nexcare
• Ace brand bandages, Futuro, O-Cel-O[1]
• Aero Technologies Inc., Clarity Braces, Cuno, Dyneon, Filtrete, HighJump Software, Inc, Littmann, Nexcare, O-Cel-O, Post-it, Scientific Anglers, Scotch, Scotchlite, Tegaderm, Vikuiti

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