Scotchguard discontinued

Following discovery of trace amounts of

perfluorooctanyl-based chemicals in water supplies and in humans, 3M Company announced that it is phasing out products that use these chemicals, including its Scotchguard™ anti-soil coating for carpets and other materials. These products represent about 2% of the company’s $16 billion in annual sales. While insisting that the chemicals do not pose a health threat at the concentrations in question, 3M is taking a proactive stance toward more benign materials. In a company press release, executive vice president Charles Reich says, “We’re reallocating resources to accelerate innovation in more sustainable opportunities and technologies. This decision is not only in the public interest, it’s in the best interests of all our constituencies.”