After years of campaign by Greenpeace and ForestEthics, 3M announced a new sustainability policy that will ensure that the maker of Post-it Notes will have a minimal impact on forests, wildlife and human rights. 3M’s paper-based products and packaging require pulp and paper from sources around the world. Working in collaboration with ForestEthics and Greenpeace, the company launched a review of all of its pulp and paper procurement expectations to ensure its materials are produced from sustainably-logged timber. 3M will now hold paper and pulp suppliers accountable to one of the highest standards in the industry for environmental protection and respect of human rights.

3M committed itself to work with all its suppliers to trace the origin for all of the wood, paper and pulp it buys and will not source fiber that was obtained in a manner that threatens high-conservation value forests, as defined by guidance developed by the High Conservation Value Resource Network. The forest operation should respect the free, prior and informed consent by indigenous peoples and local communities. 3M discarded the discussed certification label SFI label, to switch to FSC, but also to a growing use of recycled sources. The company will publish regular updates of its progress on implementing its policy, and promised to 3M cease any business with suppliers who do not adhere to its principles. As an example, it has already taken action with the discussed logging company Resolute Forest Products, demanding them to respect indigenous right and to preserve the environment. Meanwhile, 3M has cancelled its contract with the Indonesian Royal Golden Eagle Group-owned suppliers, such as APRIL, because of their unsustainable logging and human rights records.

“Consumers are increasingly demanding assurance that the products they buy are produced in way that protect our environment and respect human rights – the kind of transparency and leadership 3M offers in this revised policy represents an important step forward for the industry," said Todd Paglia, of ForestEthics. “
“By cutting business ties with controversial forest destroyers like the Royal Golden Eagle Group, 3M is demonstrating that it is serious about turning its new policies into real-world change” added Rolf Skar, forest campaign director for Greenpeace.”