All packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable (2025 Strategy)
Latest reported: ~96% (end of 2025)
From the source“All packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable”
Colgate-Palmolive – 2025 Sustainability & Social Impact Report · Jun 2026
Personal care, Home care
Colgate-Palmolive packaging profile
Colgate-Palmolive sells oral care, personal care, home care and pet nutrition products. It says about 98% of its toothpaste SKUs globally have moved to its recyclable tube.
Company profile
At a glance
- Legal name
- Colgate-Palmolive Company1
- Incorporated
- Delaware, USA (incorporated 1923)1
- Headquarters
- 300 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022, USA1
- Listing
- New York Stock Exchange: CL1
- Financial year end
- 31 December1
- Net sales
- USD 20,382 million (2025); USD 20,101 million (2024)2
- Organic sales growth
- 1.4% (2025)2
- Employees
- About 33,600 (31 Dec 2025)1
- Markets
- Over 200 countries and territories (Hill's: over 80)1
- Website
- colgatepalmolive.com9
- Note
- Q4 2025 non-cash aftertax impairment of goodwill and intangibles related to the skin health business (USD 794 million as reported in the 10-K).1
- Related listing
- Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited is separately listed in India (NSE disclosures exist); not profiled here SPI note
- End uses
- Personal care, Home care
Markets
Geographic footprint
- About two-thirds of net sales come from outside the United States and about 45% from emerging markets (FY2025). Eurasia is about 1% of consolidated net sales.1
- Latin America (USD 4,776 million in FY2025), ahead of North America (USD 4,045 million)2
- The 10-K notes that Oral Care is a substantial part of the business in Asia Pacific.1
Net sales by region: Oral, Personal and Home Care
As the company reports it
Packaging profile
Formats and materials the company itself reports using, in its own reporting. No pack specifications, volumes or supplier names beyond what it has published.
| Format | Material | What the company reports |
|---|---|---|
| Tube | Plastic (recyclable tube) | Recyclable toothpaste tube; about 98% of toothpaste SKUs globally (about 97% in North America) moved to it since 2019; available in more than 70 countries4 |
| Carton | Paper/board | Paper cartons replacing plastic blister packs on premium manual toothbrushes (Colgate, elmex, meridol, Tom's of Maine), with rollout to toothbrushes in nearly 200 countries announced for the following year6 |
| Toothbrush pack | Paper/board | Recyclable toothbrush packaging reduces plastic by 90% to 98% per package versus plastic blister packs4 |
| Bottle | Plastic, 100% PCR body | Bottles with 100% PCR plastic excluding caps and labels: Colgate mouthwash (Thailand), Axion and Glo (Malaysia)4 |
| Deodorant container | PP, recycled | Tom's of Maine deodorant container made from 95% post-consumer and 5% post-industrial polypropylene4 |
| Bottle (concentrate) | Plastic | Fabuloso 10X concentrate uses 83% less plastic in packaging than the 16.9 oz Original4 |
| Product component | PP, recycled | Colgate Total toothbrush handle with 40% recycled PP; Colgate SlimSoft handle with 50% recycled PP (product plastic, not packaging)4 |
| Flexible pet food bags | Plastic film | Pet food packaging: Hill's is a founding partner of the U.S. Flexible Film Initiative; the company also participates in the Pet Specialty Store Drop-Off Action Collaborative4 |
| All Hill's packaging | Mixed | 70% of Hill's global packaging by weight was recyclable by 20198 |
| Refill/reuse | Mixed | Reusable or refillable packaging is 1.1% of packaging by weight (2025)4 |
| All | PVC | PVC eliminated from packaging; unnecessary or problematic packaging below 1% by weight in 20254 |
Reporting scope: Packaging progress excludes external co-packaging and co-manufacturing, recent pet food acquisitions and minority or non-majority-owned joint ventures.4
Packaging suppliers
No packaging supplier relationship is publicly announced in the sources reviewed. The report names collaboration partners only (listed under memberships).
Industry and recycling partners named by the company4
The register
Packaging targets and progress
Targets and progress are taken from each company's own published reports, with a quote and a link on its page. Status shows met or missed only where the company has reported the result. No contacts, purchase volumes, supplier relationships or pack specifications are listed.
Use at least 25% post-consumer recycled plastic in packaging (2025 Strategy)
Latest reported: 27% (2025)
From the source“Use at least 25% post-consumer recycled plastic in packaging”
Colgate-Palmolive – 2025 Sustainability & Social Impact Report · Jun 2026
Eliminate one-third of virgin plastic against a 2019 baseline (2025 Strategy)
Latest reported: 32% reduction by weight vs 2019 (2025)
From the source“Eliminate one-third of virgin plastic against 2019 baseline”
Colgate-Palmolive – 2025 Sustainability & Social Impact Report · Jun 2026
Reduce virgin plastic by 33% vs. 2019 baseline (2030 Strategy)
Latest reported: 32% reduction by weight vs 2019 (2025)
From the source“Reduce virgin plastic by 33% vs. 2019 baseline”
Colgate-Palmolive – 2025 Sustainability & Social Impact Report · Jun 2026
All packaging designed for recycling (2030 Strategy)
Latest reported: About 96% designed for recycling (31 Dec 2025)
From the source“All packaging designed for recycling”
Colgate-Palmolive – 2025 Sustainability & Social Impact Report · Jun 2026
Commitments
Commitments and baselines
Every packaging and supply-chain commitment the company has published, with its baseline and the latest progress it reports. Status says met or missed only where the company states the result.
| Commitment | By | Baseline | Latest reported | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 StrategyAll packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable4 | 2025 | 81% (2019) | 96% (2025) | Missed |
| 2025 StrategyAt least 25% post-consumer recycled plastic in packaging4 | 2025 | – | 27% (21% in 2024) (2025) | Met |
| 2025 StrategyEliminate one-third of virgin plastic4 | 2025 | 2019 | 32% reduction by weight (25% in 2024) (2025) | Missed |
| 2030 StrategyReduce virgin plastic by 33% vs. 2019 baseline4 | 2030 | 2019 | 32% reduction (2025) | In progress |
| 2030 StrategyAll packaging designed for recycling4 | 2030 | ~96% designed for recycling (31 Dec 2025) | ~96% (2025) | In progress |
| 2030 StrategySource only deforestation- and conversion-free palm oil, soy and paper-based packaging materials4 | 2030 | – | 100% of direct suppliers engaged on the policies; 100% of supply volume mapped and risk-assessed (no paper-specific % reported) (2025) | In progress |
| 2030 StrategyNet zero carbon emissions across the value chain by 2040; Scope 3 purchased goods and services -42% vs 2020 by 20304Purchased goods include packaging, so suppliers are inside this Scope 3 target (SPI note) | 2040 | 2020 | Not reported | In progress |
Initiatives and pacts the company names
- Ellen MacArthur Foundation Global Commitment signatory ('for the past several years', per the 2025 report)4 as of 30 Jun 2026
- U.S. Plastics Pact named by the company in March 2022; current membership not re-confirmed7 as of Mar 2022
- Consumer Goods Forum Plastic Waste Coalition of Action and WWF ReSource: Plastic named by the company in March 2022 (ReSource reconfirmed in 2025 report)7 as of Mar 2022
Last 24 months
Recent packaging developments
Colgate announced paper cartons replacing plastic blister packs on premium manual toothbrushes under Colgate, elmex, meridol and Tom's of Maine, with rollout to toothbrushes in nearly 200 countries the following year.6
2025 Sustainability & Social Impact Report: 2025 packaging targets closed out (96% recyclable, reusable or compostable; 27% PCR; 32% virgin plastic reduction vs 2019) and 2030 goals set (33% virgin plastic cut vs 2019; all packaging designed for recycling).4
Company article on the 2030 strategy: about 96% of packaging designed for recycling, targeting 100% by 2030.5
FY2025 10-K lists extended producer responsibility obligations for product packaging among climate-related transition risks, and resins among commodities subject to market price variation.1
SPI analysis
Regulatory exposure
SPI analysis Our reading of the sourced facts above. Not company-reported, not legal advice.
Basis: Presence is taken from subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 213 and the 10-K statement that products are sold in over 200 countries and territories1. Rule IDs are from the SPI Regulation Tracker. Applicability is SPI's reading of the rule against the company's reported product and packaging mix; it is not legal advice and does not state the company's actual liability.
| Jurisdiction | Rules in the Regulation Tracker |
|---|---|
| European UnionSubsidiaries in several Member States3 |
Plastic tubes, bottles and toothbrush packs fall under PPWR recyclability (2030), labelling and recycled-content rules for plastic packaging. PR-EU-008 hospitality toiletry miniatures may be relevant if supplied to hotels; not confirmed. |
| GermanySubsidiary listed3 | |
| FranceSubsidiary listed3 | |
| SpainSubsidiary listed3 | |
| AustriaNo subsidiary in Exhibit 21; sales via other channels not confirmed | Austrian rule in the tracker is beverage deposit only; not relevant to the product mix. |
| IrelandSubsidiary listed3 | Tracker rule is beverage DRS only. |
| PortugalSubsidiary listed3 | Tracker rule is beverage DRS only. |
| PolandSubsidiary listed3 | Tracker rule is beverage DRS only. |
| United KingdomColgate-Palmolive (UK) Limited3 |
Plastic Packaging Tax applies to plastic components under 30% recycled content manufactured in or imported into the UK. |
| United StatesHeadquarters1 |
State packaging EPR (CA, OR, CO, ME, MN, MD, WA), New Jersey recycled content for rigid plastic containers, and California SB 343 recyclability labelling. Hill's pet food film is a format the company says is hard to recycle (store drop-off programmes). |
| CanadaColgate-Palmolive Canada, Inc.3 | |
| IndiaSubsidiaries listed3; Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited is listed separately | |
| ChinaColgate (Guangzhou) Company Limited3 | Excessive packaging standard covers cosmetics; whether it covers toothpaste and other products sold in China was not checked. |
| JapanHill's-Colgate (Japan) Ltd.3 | |
| AustraliaColgate-Palmolive Pty Ltd3 | Proposed national EPR scheme; PR-AU-001 targets expired. |
| New ZealandColgate-Palmolive Limited3 | Tracker rules are single-use plastic item phase-outs; no direct match found. |
| VietnamColgate-Palmolive (Vietnam) Ltd.3 | |
| PhilippinesColgate-Palmolive Philippines, Inc.3 | |
| IndonesiaP.T. Colgate Palmolive Indonesia3 | |
| ChileColgate-Palmolive Chile S.A.3 | |
| ColombiaNo subsidiary in Exhibit 21 for Colombia; sales not confirmed | Applies only if the company places packaged products on the Colombian market. |
| BrazilColgate-Palmolive Comercial Ltda.3 | |
| KenyaColgate-Palmolive (East Africa) Limited3 | |
| South AfricaColgate-Palmolive (Proprietary) Limited3 | |
| United Arab EmiratesColgate Palmolive LLC3 | Dubai rule targets single-use products (bags, cups, cutlery); no direct match. |
Plastic taxes: Plastic taxes in the tracker that can apply to this product mix: UK Plastic Packaging Tax (PR-GB-001) and Spain's non-reusable plastic packaging tax (PR-ES-001). The EU plastic own resource (PR-EU-017) is paid by Member States, not by companies.
SPI analysis
What this means for packaging suppliers
SPI analysis Our reading of the sourced facts above. Not company-reported, not legal advice.
Colgate-Palmolive's 2030 goals move the focus from making packaging technically recyclable to cutting virgin plastic by a third against 2019, and it reported 32% in 2025, so the remaining gap is small but needs to be held as volumes grow. The company has already converted about 98% of toothpaste SKUs to its recyclable tube, so the open opportunities are elsewhere: paper-based toothbrush cartons, which it is rolling out across nearly 200 countries; PCR bottles for mouthwash and home care; concentrate and refill formats (reuse is only 1.1% of packaging by weight); and recyclable flexible film for Hill's pet food bags, where it works through industry coalitions. The 2030 goal to source only deforestation- and conversion-free paper-based packaging means fibre suppliers should expect traceability questions. In the EU, the UK, North American EPR states and India, fee modulation and recycled-content rules give suppliers who can document recyclability and recycled content a cost argument as well as a sustainability one. No supplier relationship has been publicly announced, so this describes where demand is likely, not who supplies it.
Limits
Data gaps
What the sources reviewed do not show, or what we could not confirm. Know something we have missed? Tell the SPI team and we will check it.
- No packaging supplier relationships are publicly announced in the sources reviewed.
- Total packaging tonnage and plastic tonnage are not stated in the sources reviewed.
- No paper-specific deforestation-free percentage is reported for 2025.
- Current U.S. Plastics Pact and Consumer Goods Forum coalition membership not re-confirmed after March 2022.
- CDP scores not checked (CDP pages need a login).
- Austria and Colombia presence not confirmed by Exhibit 21.
- Applicability of China's GB 23350-2021 to toothpaste not checked.
- The brand page on colgatepalmolive.com could not be fetched; brands come from the 10-K.
- 10-K filing date taken as 23 February 2026 from the executive-officer date in the filing; signature page not read.
Evidence
Sources
- Colgate-Palmolive Company – Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025Regulatory filing · published 23 Feb 2026 · consulted 13 Oct 2026
- Colgate-Palmolive – Q4 and full year 2025 results, press release tables (Form 8-K exhibit)Regulatory filing · published 30 Jan 2026 · consulted 13 Oct 2026
- Colgate-Palmolive – Exhibit 21, Subsidiaries of the Registrant (FY2025 10-K)Regulatory filing · published 23 Feb 2026 · consulted 13 Oct 2026
- Colgate-Palmolive – 2025 Sustainability & Social Impact ReportCompany publication · published 30 Jun 2026 · consulted 13 Oct 2026
- Colgate-Palmolive – How We're Reimagining a Healthier Future for All by 2030Company publication · published Apr 2026 · consulted 13 Oct 2026
- Colgate-Palmolive – Reimagining Toothbrush Packaging: Easier to Shop, Open and RecycleCompany publication · published Aug 2026 · consulted 13 Oct 2026
- Colgate-Palmolive – What's it going to take to eliminate plastic waste? EverythingCompany publication · published Mar 2022 · consulted 13 Oct 2026
- Hill's Pet Nutrition – Recyclable packagingCompany publication · consulted 13 Oct 2026
- Colgate-Palmolive – SustainabilityCompany publication · consulted 12 Oct 2026
Targets in the register above link to their own source. Facts are summarised in the SPI team's words; quotes are marked.
Method
About the SPI Buyers Database
- Purpose
- To help packaging makers and suppliers see what large buyers have committed to publicly, by end use and region, and how far they have got.
- Coverage
- 42 large brand owners and retailers so far, chosen for their size in packaging demand. It is not a complete list of buyers in any market.
- Data sources
- Each company's own sustainability, annual and ESG reports, press releases and filings, plus official sources where a pledge was made to a public body.
- SPI Methodology
- For each target we record the wording, the target year, the latest progress the company reports and a short quote from the source. Status says met or missed only when the company states the result; otherwise it shows in progress or not reported.
- Limitations
- Companies report on different bases and years. Headquarters countries and end uses are assigned by the SPI team and are not separately sourced. Rows have not yet been re-checked by a second SPI team member. No contacts, purchase volumes, supplier relationships or pack specifications are included.
- Access
- Free to read and to download as CSV. For an analysis of a buyer group for your products, ask for a buyer briefing.
Ask the SPI team
Selling packaging to these companies?
We map a buyer's public commitments and deadlines to the materials and formats they affect, and assess the opportunity for converters and material suppliers.
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Questions people bring
- Q1
Which material should replace our current pack?
We compare the realistic alternatives on recyclability evidence, regulatory fit and cost direction, and say where the evidence is thin.
- Q2
How do our targets compare with our peers'?
We benchmark the public packaging commitments and reported progress of the companies you name, each with its source.