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Colgate-Palmolive Sets Bold Sustainability Goals

Global household and consumer products purveyor Colgate-Palmolive just announced a string of major sustainability goals in its 2025 Sustainability and Social Impact Strategy. The New York-based company confirmed in a press release that the strategy “focuses on three ambitions: promoting well-being and inclusivity; helping people develop healthy habits, and preserving and improving the environment.”

As part of its strategy, Colgate-Palmolive has set major sustainability targets:

  • “Eliminate one-third of new plastics as part of the transition to 100% recyclable, reusable, or compostable plastic packaging by 2025
  • Earn 100% TRUE Zero Waste certification for global operations and build 100% of new manufacturing sites LEED-certified by 2025
  • Source 100% renewable electricity for global operations by 2030
  • Achieve Net Zero Carbon emissions in global operations by 2040
  • Promote water conservation awareness to 100% of our global consumers by 2025”

Colgate-Palmolive has also pledged to reduce its toothbrush plastic waste in half by 2025. Moreover, the industry giant said in its strategy that it will encourage its key suppliers to pursue sustainable sourcing “and strive for net-zero deforestation, prioritizing palm and soy.”

“Because our Colgate brand is in more homes than any other, we can – and will – create a healthier, more sustainable future for all,” said Noel Wallace, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Colgate-Palmolive. “We view environmental and social stewardship as enterprise-wide catalysts for growth, and we’re committed to raising the bar and ensuring sustainability is integrated into all aspects of our company – from what we make to how we work to how we go to market.”

The company has already made big strides for a cleaner planet. According to the release, Colgate-Palmolive has 19 TRUE Zero Waste certified facilities across five continents which it says is the most of any company worldwide. Additionally, at the end of last year, Colgate-Palmolive began switching to the “world’s first tube recognized as recyclable,” and even shared its innovative technology with other companies to encourage them to do the same.

“Colgate wants to make tubes a part of the circular economy by keeping this plastic productive and eliminating waste,” said Wallace in 2019. “This advancement can make a significant difference in the marketplace today as we test new packaging materials, product formats, and refillable models to reduce our use of plastic.”

Colgate-Palmolive employs 34,000 people globally and operates more than 50 manufacturing and research facilities, including ones in Morristown, New Jersey, Cambridge, Ohio, and Morristown, Tennessee. For 2019, the company reported U.S. net sales of $3.4 billion for oral, personal, and home care products out of $15.7 billion net sales worldwide.

The company also announced that it achieved recognition on the 2020 Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) for the fourth year in a row. Additionally, DJSI named it the top-performing household products company for the second consecutive year, and it attained “Industry Best” scores in the environmental and social categories.

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