3M, a leading sustainability company
3M Korea introduces and operates quantitative sustainability assessment
‘Green Works’ Part 5 released to raise awareness of the importance of green jobs
‘Hyeon Ga-young, Korea 3M researcher’ appears as the main character in the documentary
300 million green jobs expected in 2050… “Emphasis on practice and courage”
3M Korea recently introduced a documentary series planned and produced with a focus on sustainability. Last month, the ‘Green Works Seminar’ was held at the Paraspara Seoul Grand Ballroom in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul. It was held as a large event with so many people invited that it filled the large grand ballroom space.
Green Works is a docuseries planned and produced by global science company 3M with a focus on sustainability. The purpose is literally to emphasize the importance of green jobs for a sustainable future. 3M is a company whose main business is various industrial materials and parts. Although it is not well known to consumers due to the nature of its business dealing mainly with corporations, 3M is also a company that introduced a quantitative evaluation process for sustainability at the beginning of a new product project more than ten years ago. Projects whose evaluation results do not meet the standards are reexamined or discarded. In addition, like this time, they are serious about sustainability, producing a video to promote the importance of green jobs and inviting industry officials to a preview event.
Recently introduced products are also released with minimal impact on the environment and humanity. The problem is that the more eco-friendly the product, the higher the unit price compared to the previously used product. Most other companies that use products made or materials supplied by 3M also pursue sustainable management. However, the high unit price of eco-friendly products is a burden for the company’s purchasing team, which must maximize profits. Although the value of eco-friendly products is recognized in Europe and the United States, it is said that in Asia, including Korea, eco-friendly products with high unit prices are naturally excluded from purchase.
Ultimately, business conditions are required in which not only 3M but all customer companies must properly recognize the value of eco-friendly products. This is also the reason why 3M actively produces sustainability-related documentaries and campaigns. It can also be seen that a lot of effort is being put into creating an atmosphere where all stakeholders value and prefer eco-friendly products. For 3M, which possesses a variety of eco-friendly technologies, sustainability is, in a way, a future growth engine itself.
“As more green jobs are required for a sustainable future, Green Works inspires and motivates job seekers to pursue eco-friendly careers,” said Lee Jeong-han, CEO of 3M Korea. “3M Korea is working to overcome many difficulties caused by climate change.” “To solve this problem, we will support the development of green jobs and strive to spread the green economy.”
The Green Works documentary series introduced this time consists of a total of 5 episodes. Hyeon Ga-young, a Korean senior researcher at 3M Korea, also appears. It unfolds in a way that focuses on five people who are working to solve the problem of climate change in Korea, the United States, Germany, China, and Brazil. Promote the need for more talent for green transition and the importance of action.
According to the Global Green Skills Report 2023, more than 300 million green jobs are expected to be created by 2050. It is emphasized that in order for the world to combat climate change, more people from all functions must participate in the green economy. It was also analyzed that in order to get a green job, practice and will are more important than special abilities. It is said that only one in eight workers around the world possess eco-friendly skills. This analysis suggests the popularity and scalability of green jobs.
Senior researcher Gayoung Hyeon, who enjoys Taekwondo as a hobby, is in charge of research and development of electric vehicle battery optimization and sustainable materials at the 3M Korea Research Institute. Hyun, a senior researcher who majored in applied physics and strategic management, said that while working, he hoped that his work would be helpful to the earth. The current senior researcher, who showed interest in the field of sustainability, was assigned to a department that researches and develops electric vehicle battery technology and products as part of his job expansion, and continued to take on new challenges.
In particular, while working at 3M, Senior Researcher Hyun said he was greatly fascinated by the unexpected results of his work that actually contributed to sustainability. Responsibility and action were emphasized as essential elements for big change. The explanation is that if you start with small actions based on the sense of responsibility that exists within each person, change can occur without you even realizing it. Additionally, he said that recently, a variety of green jobs that pursue sustainability have been operating around him, so if you pay attention, you will be able to get a green job regardless of your work experience or major.
In addition, Estefanía Pihen González, former director of the Climate Action Program for Schools (CAPS) in the U.S., who works in the field of sustainability education, and Matthias Martensen in Germany, who runs a platform that improves access to renewable energy. Co-founder and CEO of Ostrom, China, which deals with the field of sporting goods using sustainable materials, Wang Yilei, Secretary General of the China Outdoor Association, which seeks to expand practice by connecting sustainable activities between companies and organizations The green jobs of people in related fields, including the general director of Brazil’s Earthworm Foundation, are introduced in an essay-like manner. What these five people have in common is that they chose a career path that not many others take and achieved results through practice alone. They all say that courage was needed at the beginning. He emphasizes that the most important virtue is the courage to abandon fear of the future and take action.
At the preview and seminar held by 3M Korea, Senior Researcher Gayoung Hyun, one of the main characters of the documentary, participated in the panel discussion. Under the theme of ‘Surviving Companies, Surviving Jobs (Green Jobs for the Planet: New Opportunities for a Better Future)’, an in-depth discussion on green transition was held with writer Song Gil-young, known as a big data expert, and Min Seung-bae, director of 3M EMSD Asia Research Center. . Through the discussion, it was said that green jobs are jobs that anyone can have, regardless of their level of expertise or experience.
Meanwhile, 3M is partnering with the non-profit organization Work on Climate to support professionals pursuing careers in the eco-friendly field and to inform stakeholders and other people about the importance of developing green jobs. Recently, as part of the ‘3Mgives’ activity, we are seeking to expand global support for jobs in the eco-friendly field. In Korea, we are supporting the activities of the Korea Science and Technology Support Group.
Kim Min-beom, Donga.com reporter mbkim@donga.com