How Colgate-Palmolive uses Biomaterials for Sustainability

Colgate-Palmolive is the producer of many household products, covering oral health, cleaning products and pet care.

Its products are sold in over 200 countries and territories and it operates large-scale manufacturing facilities.

Colgate-Palmolive has been ranked eighth in Sustainability Magazine’s Top 250 World’s Most Sustainable Companies 2025.

Colgate-Palmolive’s Sustainability and Social Impact 2024 report outlines the company’s plans to create more sustainable business practices.

It aims to innovate its products to help consumers live more sustainable lives and provide information to help build sustainable habits.

Its target is to achieve net zero carbon by 2040 and to use 100% renewable electricity for global operations by 2030.

It is also taking steps towards becoming net zero across its value chain by engaging its key suppliers.

Colgate-Palmolive’s plans tackle issues including carbon emissions, ingredient transparency, reusable packaging and climate change.

Designing sustainable products

Colgate-Palmolive has set itself a goal to eliminate one third of its virgin plastics use versus 2019 and make all packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025.

Colgate created a recyclable toothpaste tube in 2019 which was the first of its kind.

The recyclable tube is now available in more than 70 countries worldwide, supporting the company’s sustainable packaging plans.

Colgate-Palmolive also aims to empower its consumers by promoting ingredient transparency and product safety.

Colgate’s brand websites include product pages with detailed ingredient lists. These often feature additional context including how and why certain ingredients are used so consumers can understand the benefits and functions of each component.

The company works with regulatory agencies and health organisations to ensure its products meet all safety standards.

Technical teams conduct safety evaluations before products are brought to market to ensure they comply with all regulatory requirements.

Plans to reduce emissions

Colgate-Palmolive aims to preserve the environment by accelerating its action on climate change and reducing its environmental footprint.

It is committed to decarbonising its operations to support the goal of limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

The end-of-life of its products contribute to 80% of its total greenhouse gas emissions.

This issue can be tackled through the design of its products and how consumers use its products.

Colgate-Palmolive is working on designing packaging that uses less material, is made with recycled content or is recyclable.

Ann Tracy, Chief Sustainability Officer at Colgate-Palmolive, says: “We know that when we dramatically reduce the waste generated at our facilities, we are also improving our efficiency and discovering new ways to lower our operating costs.

“We are proud of our progress so far, but there is more work to be done.”

Climate change also has a large influence on the company’s operations.

It has a risk management process where physical risks of climate change are assessed.

This aims to manage effects of episodic climate events including storms, floods, droughts and temperature extremes on its facilities and supply chain.

Colgate has launched initiatives around biodegradable ingredients, net zero water and carbon, renewable energy and zero waste operations which have enabled it to take action to protect natural resources.

It is working for water resilience across the value chain by protecting ecosystems and supporting water access, with a target to achieve net zero water at its manufacturing sites by 2030.

Colgate-Palmolive teams up with Erthos

Colgate-Palmolive is collaborating with biomaterial company Erthos to streamline its sustainable packaging design process.

It will use Erthos’ AI-powered materials discovery platform to help develop new packaging.

Erthos’ ZYA platform is designed to optimise sustainable material formulations by presenting industry biopolymers, additives and naturally occurring polymers by their performance, cost and compliance.

Colgate-Palmolive will be given access to the system and will align it with its packaging roadmap.

ZYA will enable the company to virtually design materials in line with its performance specifications and sustainability targets.

This innovation is expected to speed up material screening and boost the success rates of trials which reduces R&D time.

Greg Corra, Senior Vice President of Global Packaging at Colgate-Palmolive, says: “Improving the performance, usability and sustainability of our packaging materials is a key priority for Colgate-Palmolive.

“We are very excited to support Erthos in their development of the ZYA platform, and eager to collaborate in accelerating and enhancing the material development process.”