Our Standards for Responsibly Made

 

At Colgate-Palmolive, "Responsibly Made" is an expression of our comprehensive 2030 Sustainability & Social Impact Strategy. This strategy is built on three key ambitions: driving social impact, helping millions of homes, and preserving our environment. When you see this communication in our products, it signifies that we are operating under a rigorous framework of verifiable targets, third-party certifications, and transparent reporting.

Responsibly Made — Refers to site operational standards.

Verifiable Environmental Performance

Our environmental claims are supported by specific, measurable targets across our global operations:

  • Climate Action: We are committed to achieving Net Zero carbon emissions across our value chain by 2040. This is supported by an interim science-based target to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 2030 (from a 2020 baseline). As of December 31, 2025, we source 84% of our global operational electricity from renewable sources, progressing toward our goal of 100% by 2030. We publish our progress against those targets annually in our KPI Table and describe our actions in our Climate Strategy & Transition Plan.

  • Zero Waste Operations: We prioritize high-efficiency, low-impact facilities. As of the end of 2025, 53 of our locations in 27 countries have earned TRUE zero waste certifications. Furthermore, we pursue LEED certification for all new construction and expansion projects globally to reduce energy and water intensity. We are a leader in this area, with more TRUE certifications than any other company, as of the end of 2025. 

  • Circular Packaging: We strive for all our packaging to be designed for recycling by 2030 with a focus on industry challenges, including small-format and flexible film packaging. By the end of 2025, 96% of our packaging met these criteria. We have also reduced our usage of virgin plastic by 32% against a 2019 baseline and maintain the target to reduce virgin plastic by 33% vs. a 2019 baseline for 2030. 

Ethical and Sustainable Sourcing

Responsibility extends to our entire supply chain:

  • Sustainable Materials: We strive for deforestation- and conversion-free supply chains, prioritizing palm oil, soy, and timber. In 2025, 99% of our palm oil, palm kernel oil, and palm-based derivatives were certified under recognized schemes such as RSPO.

  • Third-Party Oversight: Our suppliers are screened against ethical, social, and environmental risks through our Supplier Responsible Sourcing Assessment (SRSA) program.

Independent Monitoring and Transparency

To ensure accountability, we maintain a robust governance structure:

  • Third-Party Validation: Our greenhouse gas emissions data and calculation methodologies are validated annually by an independent third party (Apex Companies, LLC). Targets were set in accordance with the SBTi Net Zero standard, and our GHG emissions data is calculated in accordance with the WBCSD/WRI GHG Protocol.

  • Global Standards: Our calculations and methodologies are based on the ISO standards. Our sustainability reporting is prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards and aligned with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).

  • Executive Accountability: Execution of our sustainability strategy is integrated into the individual performance objectives and compensation of our senior leadership, including our Chief Sustainability Officer.

For more detailed information on our progress and specific metrics, please refer to our latest Sustainability & Social Impact Report.

Cautionary Statement: This page contains forward-looking statements as defined by the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current management expectations and actual results may differ.

 

Highlights

  • Colgate-Palmolive’s science-based climate goal related to manufacturing was approved by the Science Based Targets Initiative.
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  • Colgate-Palmolive is committed to the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for all new plants; having achieved 27 manufacturing plant certifications to date.
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  • Colgate-Palmolive has achieved GBCI TRUE certification for zero waste at 23 plants on 5 continents. We started in the US in 2017, and since that time we have become the first company to have achieved TRUE certification for zero waste in Latin America, mainland Europe, India, China, Vietnam and South Africa.
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  • Colgate-Palmolive has been a charter member of the National Safety Council since 1913.
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  • Colgate-Palmolive was named a 2021 US EPA ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for 11 consecutive years (2011-2021).
  • Colgate-Palmolive facilities worldwide have achieved 86 US EPA ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry site recognitions.
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  • Colgate-Palmolive is consistently Top Ranked in Worker Safety by the ORCHSE.
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  • Colgate-Palmolive is a corporate member of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH).
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  • Colgate-Palmolive supports the United Nations Global Compact and is working to align our operations and strategies with its ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment, and anticorruption, and we are taking action in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
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*Our Responsibly Made claim applies to all Colgate-Palmolive owned and operated facilities. Aspects related to Sustainable & Safe Ingredients, Responsible Sourcing, Sustainable Packaging and more can be found on our sustainability website.
All logos appearing within are owned by the respective organizations.“LEED” and related logos are trademarks owned by the U.S. Green Building Council and are used with permission

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