3M has joined the Well Living Lab Alliance, a global consortium of organizations supporting the advancement of knowledge about how the indoor places where people live, work, and play can improve human health and well-being. According to 3M, its values align with the mission of the Well Living Lab to better understand the connection between our everyday living spaces and our overall health. 3M chose to be a Sustaining Alliance member and will work with the lab to identify further needed research and to conduct studies in the Well Living Lab to advance this research.

The Well Living Lab, a collaboration of Delos and Mayo Clinic, draws upon the expertise of building science and health science and conducts human subject studies in a simulated real-world setting in which environmental variables are altered to monitor impact on health, performance, stress and resiliency, sleep, and comfort. It is reportedly the first research center devoted exclusively to this field of study. The lab has 5,500 sq ft of reconfigurable space, currently set up to study occupants of apartments and open-office environments. Since its inception in 2016, the lab has conducted seven studies, with more underway.

“We are committed to understanding how the connections between our everyday living spaces impact our overall health,” said Brad Graves, vice president of 3M’s Stationery and Office Supplies Division. “This alliance with the Well Living Lab will help us understand more deeply how to improve our consumers’ lives both at work and at home.”

As an alliance member, 3M will have access to emerging health insights and trends with the Well Living Lab studies, which can be leveraged in new product innovation and are based on scientific findings. 3M will also enjoy networking and knowledge-sharing benefits, such as member-only educational webinars, an annual summit in conjunction with Mayo Clinic’s International Transform conference, and an annual showcase and early insights from studies.

“We look forward to the leadership and expertise that 3M will bring to advancing this movement to improve indoor environments, where most people now spend approximately 90% of their lives,” said Dr. Brent Bauer, Mayo Clinic, medical director of the Well Living Lab. “Alliance members bring unique perspectives, and we have a powerful community coming together.”

For more information, visit www.3m.com and www.welllivinglab.com.