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Colgate-Palmolive’s Sustainability Plan Spans Packaging Lifecycle

Cecilia Coates, Sustainability & Digital Transformation, Colgate-Palmolive, detailed her company’s plan for a 90% reduction in emissions by 2040 at PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2023. Packaging World was there to learn more.

Cecilia Coates Pro Headshot

Colgate-Palmolive’s 2025 Sustainability & Social Impact Strategy includes eliminating unnecessary or problematic packaging, a 33% reduction in virgin plastic, and a transition to only use recyclable, reusable, or compostable packaging by 2025. Colgate’s goals span beyond plastic reduction and far beyond 2025 though; the company also aims to reduce scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040, with 2020 as the base point. Here’s how Coates describes these ambitious goals. (Note: Conversational language edited for clarity)

Packaging World:
Can you explain Colgate’s strategy to hit its 2040 emissions goal?

Cecilia Coates:
The three categories from which our emissions come are manufacturing, logistics, and procurement. Here’s how we’re tackling them: For manufacturing, its energy efficiency, renewables, and zero waste. For logistics, it’s greater operational efficiency. It’s how much weight and how much distance we’re moving products across the world. Then for procurement, it’s more about supplier engagement and working in partnership with our suppliers to reduce all the emissions in the upstream supply chain.

How is Colgate-Palmolive manufacturing becoming more sustainable?
Our biggest focus here is energy efficiency, because ultimately, the cheapest megawatt hour is the one you don’t use. We’re really focused on energy efficiency and using as little as possible to make a product and to keep growing the business while using as little energy as possible.

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