Reimagining a Healthier Future: Our Standards for Responsible Sourcing
At Colgate-Palmolive, our claim of being "Committed to Responsible Sourcing" is backed by a science-led, verifiable strategy designed to ensure our products are made with respect for people and the planet. We define responsible sourcing through four key pillars: Environmental Protection, Ethical Labor Practices, Health and Safety and Business Integrity.
Verifiable Material Standards
We have set time-bound, measurable targets to achieve deforestation- and conversion-free (DCF) supply chains for our highest-impact materials. Our progress is tracked annually through robust datasets and satellite imagery.
Palm Oil & Derivatives: In 2025, 99% of our palm oil, palm kernel oil, and palm-based derivatives were certified by recognized schemes like the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).
Paper and Timber: We conduct annual risk assessments for all paper and pulp packaging suppliers. As of 2025, 78% of our paper-based packaging materials come from recycled materials and approximately 65% of our virgin material volumes are certified under FSC or PEFC.
Soy Products: Our target is for our soy-based materials to be deforestation and conversion-free by 2030. In 2025 6% of our soybean meal and oil is Proterra certified and represents all of Colgate’s South American soybean meal and oil volumes.
For additional details on Colgate’s No Deforestation commitment please see our relevant policies on No Deforestation, Palm Oil and Soy.
Ethical Labor and Human Rights
Colgate is committed to compliance with all applicable labor laws and modern slavery laws in countries where we operate. Colgate has a long-standing commitment to respecting human rights and labor rights worldwide and supports the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the International Labor Organization (ILO) Core Labor Conventions. In addition, we have confirmed our support for the UN Global Compact and its principles on human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption. Colgate is a member of the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) - Human Rights Coalition, which consists of 30 manufacturers and retailers committed to eradicating forced labor from consumer goods supply chains. Through the coalition's collective action we seek to drive the social sustainability conversation forward and help implement actions that lead to positive impacts. As a member of the coalition we support the Forum’s Social Resolution on Forced Labor and its supporting Priority Industry Principles; every worker should have freedom of movement, no worker should pay for a job and no worker should be indebted or coerced to work. Colgate is a member of and sits on the leadership team of AIM-Progress, through which we collaborate with peer consumer goods companies, suppliers and industry leaders to drive action on the responsible and sustainable sourcing of materials.
Our commitment to human rights is guided by the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and International Labour Organization (ILO) standards.
No Forced or Child Labor: We have a strict policy against forced, bonded, or child labor across all tiers of our supply chain.
Responsible Recruitment: Through Colgate’s partnership with the Consumer Goods Forum - Human Rights Coalition, we collaborate with the Fair Labor Association to strengthen protections for workers in high-risk sectors, such as the Malaysian palm oil supply chain.
Supplier Compliance: Suppliers must adhere to our Third-Party Code of Conduct, which is integrated into our purchase and service agreements.
Governance and Independent Verification
To ensure the integrity of our claims, we maintain a comprehensive oversight and auditing framework.
Supplier Assessments (SRSA): We use our Supplier Responsible Sourcing Assessment (SRSA) program to screen suppliers for social and environmental risks. High-risk suppliers are required to undergo third-party audits to ensure they meet our global standards.
Independent Data Assurance: Our greenhouse gas emissions and climate-related data are validated annually by an independent third party (Apex Companies, LLC) to ensure accuracy.
Strategic Partnerships: We work with specialized organizations like the Earthworm Foundation, CDP, the Consumer Goods Forum and AIM-PROGRESS to align our sourcing practices with global best practices.
For detailed metrics and methodology, please view the Key Performance Indicators (KPI) Table in our Sustainability & Social Impact Report. Read our Sustainability Policies.
Partnerships
Colgate realizes that we cannot achieve our ambitious goals alone. A critical element of our commitment to responsible sourcing is our engagement and collaboration with external partners.
To learn more about Colgate’s Partnerships, please visit our Sustainability website.
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.
