Smog-Reducing Granules

The challenge is enormous

Designed for conventional asphalt roofing, 3M's new smog-reducing granules transform polluted air into water-soluble ions that can be easily washed away. This miraculous process is achieved through the use of a photocatalytic coating used on each granule. This coating is activated naturally by the sun's UV rays and will then bind with the chemical compounds found in smoggy air, eventually turning them into water-soluble ions.

While 3M did conduct its own testing of these smog-reducing granules, the company also sent a sample for external validation to Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. The lab then tested how effective the granules were in absorbing different gases and pollutants. According to the lab's research, an average-sized roof coated in these smog-reducing granules could remove as many pollutants as three trees.