3M controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
Back to profile18 entries
2026
Vermont sues Saint-Gobain, DuPont and 3M over PFAS contamination in Bennington County
Lawsuit filed
The state of Vermont filed a lawsuit against multiple manufacturers, alleging that PFAS from former factories contaminated properties and well water in Bennington and Shaftsbury. The state seeks payment from Saint-Gobain, DuPont and 3M to remove PFOA chemicals from the water, prevent future exposure, connect affected homes to the municipal water system, and admit negligence.
The state of Vermont is suing multiple manufacturers, alleging they contaminated properties and well water in Bennington and Shaftsbury with PFAS from former factories. The state seeks payment from Saint-Gobain, DuPont and 3M to remove PFOA chemicals from the water, prevent future exposure, connect affected homes to the municipal water system, and admit negligence.
Stated objective. The state wants Saint-Gobain, DuPont, and 3M Company to pay to remove PFOA chemicals from the water, prevent future exposure, connect affected homes to the municipal water system, and admit their negligence.
Company response
Denial — DuPont
We have not received the complaint referenced by the Attorney General’s office, however we are extremely disappointed they have taken this action we believe is without merit.
Denial — 3M
3M disagrees with the allegations in this lawsuit.
Source excerpt
sweeping lawsuit Tuesday in Washtenaw County Circuit Court, alleging 3M, DuPont and other PFAS manufacturers “intentionally hid” known health and environmental risks from the public and state while selling toxic but profitable “forever chemicals” to consumers and corporate customers since the 1950s.
The suit seeks to hold 17 named companies financially responsible for all past and future costs associated with toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl contamination at dozens of sites across the state.
The substances have been detected at levels requiring remediation at more than 70 sites across Michigan.
2026
3M recalls Scotch Thermal Laminators over fire hazard
Recall announced
In 2026, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced that 3M Company is recalling about 53,634 Scotch Thermal Laminators due to a fire hazard posing a risk of serious injury or death. The firm has received 63 reports of the laminators smoking, melting and overheating, including five reports of the laminators catching fire and one report of minor property damage; no injuries have been reported.
On October 15, 2026, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced that 3M Company is recalling about 53,634 Scotch Thermal Laminators due to a fire hazard posing a risk of serious injury or death. The firm has received 63 reports of the laminators smoking, melting and overheating, including five reports of the laminators catching fire and one report of minor property damage; no injuries have been reported.
Company response
Recall — 3M Company
3M Company Recalls Scotch™ Thermal Laminators Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Fire Hazard
Source excerpt
The CPSC announces today the following recalls conducted in cooperation with the firms listed below.
About 53,634 units
2023
PFAS claims by United States public water systems
3M announced a proposed settlement framework valued at up to approximately $10.3 billion over time to resolve claims from numerous United States public water systems alleging PFAS contamination. The agreement did not resolve every PFAS-related claim or regulatory matter.
2023
PFAS contamination and related lawsuits
3M faced lawsuits and regulatory pressure over environmental impacts of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and claims from public water systems, and announced related settlement arrangements.
2023
PFAS contamination and liability controversy
3M faced regulatory action and lawsuits concerning PFAS chemicals historically manufactured or used by the company and alleged contamination of water and the environment. The company announced an exit from PFAS manufacturing and use.
2021
PFOS contamination concerns near Zwijndrecht facility
Investigations in Belgium linked PFOS contamination in the area around 3M’s Zwijndrecht facility to historical industrial activity. Authorities issued measures concerning exposure and food consumption while remediation and accountability questions remained active.
2021
Bemidji and 3M reach settlement over water-treatment costs
Settlement
Bemidji and 3M reached a settlement related to chemicals in local water systems. The agreement provides that 3M will contribute $12.5 million toward construction of the treatment facility and treatment operations.
Source excerpt
According to a release from the two entities, the Bemidji City Council on Monday approved an agreement resolving its claims against 3M, which produced the chemicals.
BEMIDJI -- After nearly five months of negotiating, the city of Bemidji and Minnesota-based company 3M have reached a settlement related to chemicals in local water systems.
In the agreement approved by both parties, 3M is now set to contribute $12.5 million to the construction of the facility and the treatment operations.
2021
3M announces environmental investment and targets
Company response
3M announced that it will invest about $1 billion over 20 years toward environmental goals, including water-quality improvements and reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. The company said the water-purification initiative would also help address PFAS; the article states that PFAS chemicals have polluted groundwater in Washington County and elsewhere.
Stated objective. Accelerate 3M's global environmental goals.
Company response
Remediation — 3M
3M said Tuesday it will invest about $1 billion over the next 20 years to accelerate its global environmental goals, boosting efficiency at the same time.
Source excerpt
3M said Tuesday it will invest about $1 billion over the next 20 years to accelerate its global environmental goals, boosting efficiency at the same time.
The water quality improvements will include issues associate with PFAS, a family of chemicals made by 3M for use in products ranging from fabric protectors to firefighting foam. The chemicals don't break down in the environment and have polluted groundwater in Washington County and elsewhere.
2021
3M takes legal action against mask distributor
Lawsuit filed
3M said it had taken legal action against Nationwide Source to prevent it from selling counterfeit 3M-branded masks. The article does not specify when the legal action was filed.
Stated objective. To prevent Nationwide from selling the masks.
Source excerpt
3M officials say ill-fitting masks at Hennepin County Medical Center were counterfeits sold to the hospital by an unauthorized distributor.
3M says it has now taken legal action against Nationwide to prevent the company from selling the masks.
2020
Court grants 3M preliminary injunction against Performance Supply
Ruling
A federal judge granted 3M a preliminary injunction against Performance Supply in a lawsuit alleging trademark violations and price-gouging involving N95 respirators. The court concluded that Performance Supply was not an authorized distributor, agent, or representative of 3M-brand respirators.
Source excerpt
In a five-page order accompanied by a lengthy summary of factual findings, US District Court Judge Loretta Preska found for 3M and granted a preliminary injunction against Performance Supply, concluding that “[Performance Supply] is not, and has never been, a licensed or authorized distributor, agent, or representative of 3M-brand N95 respirators.”
A federal judge on Monday granted 3M a preliminary injunction against a New Jersey-based company accused of federal trademark violations and flagrantly increasing the price of highly-coveted N95 face masks.
In an email, the company says Hennepin County Medical Center bought more than 10,000 counterfeit 3M-branded N95 masks from a Florida-based distributor called Nationwide Source.
2020
3M sues five vendors over alleged fraudulent respirator offers
Lawsuit filed
3M said it sued five vendors for allegedly targeting U.S. government officials with fraudulent offers to sell non-existent N95 respirators. The vendors were not connected with 3M, which said some falsely affiliated themselves with the company.
Source excerpt
The company said one case claimed to have up to five billion respirators at inflated prices, falsely affiliating themselves with 3M.
Reuters: Industrial conglomerate 3M Co. said on Friday it sued five vendors for allegedly attempting to target US Government officials with fraudulent offers to sell billions of non-existent N95 respirators.
3M said the lawsuit is meant to help “combat the exploitation of consumers during the COVID-19 global pandemic.”
2020
3M sues Performance Supply over New York City mask offer
Lawsuit filed
3M sued Performance Supply over its offer to sell N95 masks to New York City. 3M alleged that Performance Supply was not authorized to distribute the masks and had attempted to charge the city a markup of more than 500%.
Source excerpt
3M claims the company, New Jersey-based Performance Supply, wasn’t authorized to distribute the masks, and had attempted to inflate the price of the masks at a more than 500% markup for New York.
3M called Performance Supply’s offer to New York “extreme price-gouging,” according to the lawsuit filed in federal court in Manhattan on Friday.
Though the case reads like a fairly standard trademark and false advertising case, it highlights widespread alleged price gouging that’s popped up throughout the country since the national emergency began.
2020
3M and Wolverine Worldwide settle PFAS claims
Settlement
3M and Wolverine World Wide reached an agreement resolving legal claims between the companies related to PFAS in the environment in Plainfield and Algoma Townships, Michigan. Under the settlement, 3M will contribute $55 million to support Wolverine's PFAS remediation efforts.
Stated objective. To support Wolverine's work with the State of Michigan on investigation and remediation activities, including water infrastructure and treatment in certain western Michigan communities.
Source excerpt
3M (MMM) and Wolverine World Wide, Inc. have reached an agreement to address PFAS in the environment in Michigan's Plainfield and Algoma Townships. The agreement resolves legal claims between the two companies and pertains only to the lawsuit between Wolverine and 3M.
Under the terms of the settlement, 3M will make a fixed financial contribution of $55 million to support Wolverine's past and ongoing efforts to address PFAS remediation under Wolverine's Consent Decree with the state of Michigan.
2019
Former Marine files lawsuit over 3M Combat Arms earplugs
Lawsuit filed
A former U.S. Marine filed a lawsuit alleging that 3M and its subsidiary Aearo Technologies knew Combat Arms earplugs were defective and deliberately falsified test results to obtain a military contract.
Source excerpt
According to a recent lawsuit filed by a former U.S. Marine, 3M and its Aearo Technologies LLC subsidiary falsified test results in order to sell defective earplugs to the military for a multi-million dollar per-year contract.
Doyle’s lawsuit alleges that both 3M and Aearo knew the earplugs were defective and deliberately falsified test results in order to acquire the multi-million dollar per-year military contract.
2018
Minnesota PFAS water-pollution settlement
3M agreed to pay $850 million to resolve Minnesota’s claims concerning alleged contamination of drinking water and natural resources by PFAS-related chemicals.
2018
Combat Arms earplug litigation
Military service members alleged that 3M's Combat Arms earplugs did not provide the protection represented and contributed to hearing injuries. The litigation became one of the largest product-liability matters associated with the company.
2000
Phase-out of PFOS and PFOA-related production
Following regulatory scrutiny and scientific concern regarding persistent perfluorinated chemicals, 3M announced that it would phase out production of PFOS, PFOA, and related products. Later litigation and contamination investigations continued to examine the company’s historical production and environmental practices.
1983
Oakdale Dump Superfund contamination
The Oakdale Dump in Minnesota, a former 3M disposal site, was listed as an EPA Superfund site after investigations found groundwater and soil contamination involving volatile organic compounds and heavy metals.