Consumer packaged goods (CPG) company Colgate-Palmolive has embedded sustainability into its supply chain operations for over two decades. The company prioritises sustainability in its decision-making processes, allocating a minimum of 5% of its capital spending to waste reduction, climate initiatives, and other sustainability efforts. Colgate invests in electric forklifts and rejects packaging that cannot be recycled. Its manufacturing facilities compete to reduce waste, leading to innovative solutions such as repurposing boiler ash in manufacturing. Colgate takes a proactive approach to sustainability, focusing on both necessary actions (“shields”) and areas where it wants to lead (“swords”). The company has set ambitious targets, including achieving 100% renewable electricity and significant emissions reductions across its operations and supply chain. Colgate is also committed to converting all its toothpaste tubes to recyclable materials by 2025 and has shared the technology with other brands to drive industry-wide change. The company’s sustainability efforts align with its broader supply chain transformation, emphasising operational efficiency and reducing its environmental impact.

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