3M

3M received a score of 85 on the 2025 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a political stakeholder group. The company recruits employees based on sexual identity issues. The company discriminates against vendors that do not promote divisive sex and gender policies, indicating it prioritizes sexual issues over merit (1)(2). The company integrates ESG into its business practices. From its 2025 Global Impact Report: “We’ve integrated third-party ESG audit approaches, such as the Responsible Business Alliance’s, Validated Audit Program and other comparable methods, into our verification process for suppliers in higher-risk categories” (3). 3M integrates DEI into its supply chain. From its 2024 Global Impact Report: “3M expects our suppliers to hold the same bar we set for ourselves around environmental and social governance, including for employment, diversity, community-building, and risk mitigation” (4). The company promotes divisive sex and gender policies. Its Supplier Responsibility Code requires international vendors to include sexual orientation and gender identity in their nondiscrimination policy (5). However, 3M has not canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs (6).

3M’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company will not donate to non-religious charities unless they embrace controversial sexual identity policies (1)(2). The company will not match employee donations to “[h]ouses of worship/churches” (3). 3M likely uses Benevity as its charitable giving platform. Benevity vets charities according to the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Hate List, which includes mainstream libertarian, conservative, family, and religious advocacy organizations (4)(5)(6).

3M’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company forces employees to attend multiple, controversial trainings on gender identity, sexual orientation, transgender issues, and divisive racial ideology. The company provides gender transition guidelines for its employees and a specific benefits guide with a comprehensive explanation of transgender services funded by the company (1)(2). The company requires its employees to take implicit bias and DEI training (3). 3M appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its supply chain. From its 2024 Global Impact Report: “3M prioritizes working with diverse suppliers and small businesses across our sourcing organization” (4). The company appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its business structure through the establishment of gender and racial targets for its leadership composition. The company is seeking “to double our global diverse representation in management by 2030” (5). 3M has a history of divisive corporate policies and practices. However, in 2025, the company removed DEI and ESG language and policies from its annual Global Impact Report. To date, the company has not publicly addressed this change, leaving shareholders without clarity regarding the company’s reasoning or future direction (6). The company’s former CEO Inge Thulin signed Catalyst’s Champions for Change pledge, indicating its support of DEI in its leadership composition through the establishment of gender and racial targets (7)(8). 3M does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (9).

3M opposed various state and local legislation intended to protect parental rights, girls’ sports, bathroom facilities, and gendered spaces (1)(2). The company signed an open letter endorsing the Equality Act, a contentious proposal to amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act by adding sexual orientation and so-called gender identity as protected categories. The legislation would, among other implications, grant biological men access to women-only spaces such as sports teams and public restrooms, and compel healthcare providers to deliver sex-denying healthcare (3). 3M’s CEO William Brown is a member of the Business Roundtable, which supports stakeholder capitalism over traditional shareholder obligations (4). The company’s former CEO Michael Roman signed the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge, which includes a commitment to promote DEI through bias education training in the workplace, strategize on DEI programs/initiatives with other signatories, and engage boards of directors when developing and evaluating DEI strategies (5)(6). 3M is committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2050 (7). The company supports DEI within its business practices, hosting a DEI Council (8). 3M supports DEI within its business practices. From its 2024 DEI Report: “We seek and celebrate diversity and put into practice allyship and belonging in everyday actions that foster inclusion for 3Mers everywhere” (9). The company supports ESG within its business practices. From its 2024 Global Impact Report: “3M is committed to contributing to a better and brighter future through our people, products, and operations. The strength of our commitment is reflected in our sustainability goals and our environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics” (10). After mass protests against federal immigration enforcement and fatal shootings in Minnesota, 3M’s CEO William Brown signed an open letter calling for the immediate de-escalation of violence and for state, local, and federal authorities to work together to restore peace in Minnesota (11). The company scored a 100 out of 100 on the 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a political stakeholder group (12)(13).

3M provides a benefits package for employees that covers costs for an abortion (1). The company’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company covers transgender related costs for its employees and their children, including paid short-term leave, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, chest surgeries, genital surgeries, medical visits and lab monitoring, travel and lodging. By allowing a political stakeholder group to dictate operations, the company increases health care costs and risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (2)(3). 3M donated $250,000 to the Saint Paul YWCA and $250,000 to the Penumbra Center for Racial Healing, both of which exist to fight “systemic racism” (4). The company is a sponsor of Twin Cities Pride 2026 (5). In response to George Floyd’s death, 3M pledged to invest $50,000,000 in “racial opportunity gaps” (6). Otherwise, there are no publicly known cases of 3M using corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (7).

3M has not used its PAC donations or lobbying for ideological purposes (1)(2)(3).