3M Canada has joined forces with Svante Technologies, Inc (Svante), a Vancouver-based carbon capture and removal provider to accelerate direct air capture (DAC) technology for net zero emissions.

LONDON, ONT, Sept. 26, 2023 – 3M Canada is driving action on climate change and innovation as research from the company’s annual State of Science Index (SOSI) reveals that 90 per cent of Canadians believe science can help minimize the effects of climate change.

Environmental consciousness remains top of mind in Canada according to the 2023 SOSI study, with nine in 10 Canadians expressing concern about the consequences of climate change. Canadians see climate change as a collective responsibility, with 88 per cent of respondents saying that companies need to accelerate the development and adoption of technologies and innovations that address climate change.

3M’s recent collaboration with Svante, a Canadian-based carbon capture and removal provider, is accelerating the development and scalability of DAC solutions, which can trap carbon dioxide found in the atmosphere and sequester it. Based in Vancouver, Svante is a world leader in the solid sorbent method of carbon capture and removal and together with 3M is developing a proprietary material called Sorbents-on-a-Roll—or SOAR. Sheets of this nanoengineered material are to be stacked in parallel layers in Svante’s carbon removal filters. 

3M is currently scaling up production of SOAR material, allowing the material to be built into filters for DAC field trials in 2024. By leveraging each company’s capabilities—including 3M’s ability to produce advanced filtration technology at-scale—3M and Svante believe it will be feasible to capture millions of tons of CO2 from diverse DAC facilities around the world.

In its own facilities, 3M is building momentum towards its commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. One of the driving forces behind this progress is the company’s accelerated transition towards renewable energy. At the start of 2021, 3M Canada’s headquarters in London, Ontario switched to 100% renewable electricity as part of the global commitment to using 100% renewable electricity across all its operations by 2050. 3M Canada has also joined the Net-Zero Challenge in support of the Government of Canada and affirmed its commitment to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50 per cent by 2030.

Speaking to the importance of collaboration in tackling climate change, 3M Canada in partnership with the Globe and Mail will host an upcoming panel on Thursday, Sep. 28, to discuss the current state of climate action in Canada and the implementation of climate solution technologies with other business and sustainability leaders from around the country.

The panel will feature:

• Gayle Schueller, senior vice president and chief sustainability officer, 3M
• David Redfern, president and CEO, Eastern Canada, Lafarge
• Apoorv Sinha, founder and CEO, carbon upcycling
• Alex Osborne-Saponja, associate director, Sustainalytics
• Moderated by Ryan MacDonald, senior editor, climate, environment and resources, The Globe and Mail

“At 3M, we know innovations that deliver scalable impact across industries have never been more important,” said Gayle Schueller, 3M senior vice president and chief sustainability officer. “Canadians are increasingly looking to companies to make a positive difference through our products, processes, and technologies. Our continued partnership with Svante is an opportunity to ideate, collaborate and plan with other business and climate leaders around the steps we must take to accelerate science-based solutions to this significant global challenge.”

To learn more about 3M's commitments to climate innovation and how 3M solutions are improving lives around the world, visit www.3M.com/ESG.

Survey Methodology
3M's State of Science Index presents original, independent, and nationally representative (based on census demographics) research in 2023, conducted by an independent global research partner through a combination of online and offline interviews. The 2023 Survey was conducted between September 21 – December 7, 2022 among 1,000 general population adults (18+) in each of the following 17 countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom and the United States. At the 95% confidence level, the margin of error is +/- 0.8 percentage points at the 17-country level and +/- 3.10 percentage points for each individual country. To compare results year over year, an 8-country tracking average was used which has a margin of error of +/- 1.1 percentage points.

About 3M
3M (NYSE: MMM) believes science helps create a brighter world for everyone. By unlocking the power of people, ideas and science to reimagine what's possible, our global team uniquely addresses the opportunities and challenges of our customers, communities, and planet. Learn how we're working to improve lives and make what's next at news.3MCanada.ca or on Twitter at @3M_Canada.