3M technology reduces smog
Trees help to clean the air we breathe, said 3M, they absorb pollutant gases like nitrogen oxides, ozone and carbon monoxide.
3M technology, in the form of smog reducing granules, integrated into Malarkey roofing shingles, removes smog gases from the air with the same effect as trees.
“3M smog reducing granules are proof that we can use ingenuity and a science-based approach to solve challenges facing our environment without compromising performance or visual aesthetics,” said Ippocratis Vrohidis, president, 3M industrial mineral products division.
3M smog-reducing granules are designed with an integrated photocatalyst that reacts with UV light to transform the nitrogen oxides in smog into a plant-usable form of nitrogen.
Integrating smog reducing granules from 3M into roofing shingles doesn’t change the shingle performance or its visual aesthetics, but rather puts to work a technology that helps improve air quality on a microscopic level not visible to the naked eye, said 3M.
“Achieving this ambitious milestone is just the beginning of our commitment to drive impact for the greater good,” said Vrohidis.
Since the launch of the smog-reducing shingle, said 3M, Portland, Oregon-based Malarkey Roofing Products has provided the industry with enough roofing materials to protect more than 400,000 roofs.
Because each roof has the smog-fighting capacity of two to three trees, that’s the equivalent of over one million trees of smog reducing power, said 3M.
The photocatalyst does not get consumed in the reaction, so the smog-reducing capability is a continuous cycle refreshed with rain or dew.
When 3M launched smog-reducing technology in its roofing granules, Malarkey made a move to integrate 3M’s technology into all its shingle offerings to help actively clean the air of emission pollutants, said the company. That commitment was in addition to their already sustainable shingle design that integrates upcycled tires and plastic bags.
“For over 65 years, Malarkey has been using 3M roofing granules in its roofing products,” said Randy Morgan, director national accounts, 3M industrial mineral products division.
“We applaud Malarkey’s proven leadership in sustainability with its shingles made of upcycled rubber and plastics to reduce landfill waste, and a commitment to work with 3M to continuously seek better, more sustainable shingle solutions like integrating 3M smog-reducing granules,” said Morgan.
According to the American Lung Association’s 2022 “State of the Air” report, covering years 2018-2020, said 3M, more than 40% of Americans live with unhealthy levels of air pollution. In 3M’s 2021 Home Renovation Study, 56% of homeowners surveyed stated they believe all products should have an eco-friendly component. Additionally, 52% stated they would be more active in considering eco-friendly materials if their friends and family were doing so.
St. Paul, Minnesota-based 3M applies science in collaborative ways to “improve lives daily as our employees connect with customers all around the world.”