In a world increasingly driven by the urgency of sustainability, the digital revolution, and the relentless pace of automotive innovation, 3M stands at the intersection of these transformations. By applying material science at scale, the company is crafting solutions to address climate change, enhance digitisation, and reshape the future of mobility. Behind every leap forward lies a tapestry of research, innovation, and collaboration, which 3M exemplifies in its pursuit of progress.
Speaking to Mobility Outlook, Dhritisunder Bhattacharya - Senior General Manager R&D for India & SEA, 3M, said, recyclability also takes centre stage in its sustainability mission. By increasing the recycled content in its acoustic materials, the company is pushing boundaries to achieve near-total recyclability. The company has increased its recycled material usage from 17% a few years ago to 30% currently and aims to exceed 70% by 2027, showcasing its commitment to combining functionality with environmental responsibility.
Scaling Sustainability Through Material Science
Sustainability lies at the core of 3M’s operations, with a focus on renewable energy utilisation and decarbonisation. The company has dedicated teams worldwide working to create solutions for cleaner air and reduced environmental impact. While many of these innovations are in their early stages, the company’s commitment to sustainability is clear. Every new product launched includes a “Sustainability Value Commitment Statement, ensuring that environmental considerations are integrated into the design, manufacturing, and lifecycle of products,” he said.
Take, for instance, 3M’s contribution to India’s transition to Bharat Stage-6 (BS-6) emission standards. This monumental shift required a reimagining of vehicle emission architecture. While advanced nations took over six years to move from Euro-4 to Euro-6. India achieved this feat in less than three years. The automotive industry transformed its production lines to comply with stricter emission norms, where 3M played a pivotal role. The transition demanded changes to product materials and manufacturing methods, demonstrating the company’s agility and expertise in meeting the evolving needs of industries while maintaining a sustainability-first approach.
Driving Digitisation: Enabling Future Of Technology
The digital revolution relies not only on software but also on hardware innovation, an area where 3M excels. The company’s material science expertise plays a crucial role in improving the efficiency of digital devices, from handheld gadgets to advanced augmented and virtual reality systems. For example, 3M has leveraged its film and optics technologies to enhance the lenses used in AR and VR devices, ensuring clarity and performance, he explained.
In the realm of electronics, the company’s materials are helping to manage the growing demand for thermal and electrical efficiency. As industries move toward smaller, more complex designs—such as the potential development of three-dimensional PCBs—3M’s solutions in packaging, thermal management, and conductivity are becoming indispensable. In data centres, where countless electronic devices operate at lightning-fast speeds, the company’s materials help optimise heat dissipation and system performance, ensuring the infrastructure behind the digital revolution remains robust.
Melding Electronics With Mobility
As the automotive industry converges with digital technologies, vehicles are transforming into hubs of connectivity and intelligence. From telematics to autonomous systems, electronics now form the backbone of modern vehicles. 3M’s contributions extend to light management, display control, and material innovations that enhance the driving experience while prioritising safety.
For instance, interactive displays in vehicles must balance dynamism with driver safety. The company’s expertise in light and display management is shaping a future where in-car screens provide immersive yet controlled experiences. Additionally, with the rise of glass-intensive car designs, the company is pioneering solutions to integrate optics, fabric, and light management, enabling features such as illuminated interiors and mood-responsive environments.
The shift to electric mobility further accelerates the need for innovative materials. Thermal and electrical efficiency becomes critical as vehicles pack more electronics into compact spaces. 3M’s materials help manage heat and improve the functionality of these intricate systems, supporting the automotive industry’s transition to a sustainable, electrified future, he noted.
Dynamic Path Forward
The challenges of sustainability, digitisation, and automotive innovation are vast and evolving. Yet, 3M’s role as an enabler across industries underscores the transformative power of material science. By bridging the gaps between imagination and implementation, the company is not only responding to today’s demands but also shaping the possibilities of tomorrow.
“The definition of what we do in the automotive and electronics space is ever-changing. It is this adaptability and commitment to innovation that positions the company at the forefront of a rapidly transforming world, ensuring its material science expertise continues to fuel progress across sustainability, digitisation, and mobility,” Bhattacharya added.
Also Read:
“Customer Feedback Has Consistently Driven 3M To Further Advance Technologies”