3M agreed to pay up to $10.3 billion to settle lawsuits over PFAS contamination in U.S. public drinking water, and separately paid $6 billion to resolve more than 260,000 claims from military veterans who suffered hearing loss from defective earplugs. Internal documents show 3M scientists knew about PFAS toxicity as early as the 1970s but kept the findings secret for decades.

Why should I avoid 3M?

3M's own scientists documented PFAS health risks in the 1970s but the company continued manufacturing and selling the chemicals while communities drank contaminated water. The $10.3 billion water contamination settlement and $6 billion earplug settlement reflect the scale of harm caused by concealing known dangers from regulators and the public.

What are the best ethical alternatives to 3M?

For office supplies and adhesives, Office Depot and Gorilla Brand offer comparable products without the PFAS controversy. For safety gear, Honeywell Safety and Moldex specialize in hearing and respiratory protection and have far fewer documented regulatory violations.

3M

Flagged · Avoid

Multinational conglomerate producing over 60,000 products, including Post-it notes, Scotch tape, and N95 masks.

Last updated June 14, 2026

Reasons to avoid

Issues span:EnvironmentConsumer

3M agreed to pay up to $10.3 billion over 13 years to settle lawsuits from U.S. public water suppliers whose systems were contaminated by PFAS "forever chemicals" in the company's products and firefighting foam. The agreement, which received final court approval in March 2024, will help utilities filter and test for PFAS in drinking water nationwide.npr.org2023-06-22
3M agreed to pay $6 billion to resolve more than 260,000 lawsuits from U.S. military veterans who suffered hearing loss and tinnitus from defective Combat Arms earplugs issued to troops between 2003 and 2015. Plaintiffs alleged 3M hid design flaws and fudged test results to keep the earplugs in military supply chains.startribune.com2023-08-29
A 2024 investigation by ProPublica and The New Yorker revealed that 3M scientists discovered their PFAS chemicals were present in human blood as early as the 1970s and found evidence of toxicity in animal studies, but the company kept the findings secret and continued manufacturing PFOS for decades. The EPA now classifies PFOS as "likely to cause cancer" at any level of exposure.propublica.org2024-05-24

Ethical alternatives

Household & Cleaning

Grove Collaborative

Certified B Corp marketplace for plant-based household and cleaning products shipped plastic-neutral. A lower-impact swap for everyday home and cleaning supplies.

✅ B-Corp

Visit →

Office & Craft Supplies

Blick Art Materials

America's largest art supply retailer, founded in 1911. Deep selection of professional-grade materials at fair prices.

👪 Family Owned

Visit →

Local Office & Art Supply Stores

Find an independent office and art supply store near you.

📍 Local Business

Common Questions

Is 3M ethical?: 3M agreed to pay up to $10.3 billion to settle lawsuits over PFAS contamination in U.S. public drinking water, and separately paid $6 billion to resolve more than 260,000 claims from military veterans who suffered hearing loss from defective earplugs. Internal documents show 3M scientists knew about PFAS toxicity as early as the 1970s but kept the findings secret for decades.
Why should I avoid 3M?: 3M's own scientists documented PFAS health risks in the 1970s but the company continued manufacturing and selling the chemicals while communities drank contaminated water. The $10.3 billion water contamination settlement and $6 billion earplug settlement reflect the scale of harm caused by concealing known dangers from regulators and the public.
What are the best ethical alternatives to 3M?: For office supplies and adhesives, Office Depot and Gorilla Brand offer comparable products without the PFAS controversy. For safety gear, Honeywell Safety and Moldex specialize in hearing and respiratory protection and have far fewer documented regulatory violations.