Colgate-Palmolive Releases Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report for FY 2025-26

Colgate-Palmolive Releases Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report for FY 2025-26​

Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited has released its Business Responsibility & Sustainability Report (BRSR) for the Financial Year 2025-26. The report, which is part of the company's Annual and ESG Report, details the company's commitment to sustainable growth, ethical governance, and social impact across its operations.

The BRSR showcases the progress made by Colgate-Palmolive in various ESG initiatives, positioning the company as a provider of science-led products dedicated to both public health and planetary well-being. The report emphasizes holistic wellbeing as an organizational priority, driven by robust governance structures grounded in integrity and transparency.

Business Operations and Market Presence​

Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited's primary business activity is focused on personal care, which accounts for 98.05% of its turnover. Key products, such as toothpaste and toothbrushes, contribute 97.10% of the entity’s turnover.

The company serves a wide array of customers across diverse geographical locations, including all 28 Indian states and 8 Union Territories nationally. Internationally, it operates in 14 countries.

Key details regarding the listed entity include:

Environmental Stewardship and Resource Management​

Colgate-Palmolive reports significant advancements in environmental management, demonstrating a commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and optimizing resource use across its operations.

Water and Energy Consumption:
The company maintained a water intensity of 0.33 (water consumed/turnover) for FY 2025-26, down from 0.34 in the previous year. In terms of energy consumption, total energy consumed amounted to 2,34,385.64 GJ in FY 2025-26.

The company's efforts toward sustainable practices include:

• Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD): Manufacturing sites located at Sanand and Goa recycle and reuse 100% of the wastewater generated on premises, using the treated water for gardening, toilet flushing, and utilities.
• Energy Efficiency: Initiatives such as implementing a magnetic levitation chiller in Goa, deploying an automated tube cleaning system for HVAC chillers in Sanand, and replacing conventional motors with BLDC motors in cooling tower fans contributed to estimated energy savings across multiple facilities.

Waste Management:
Colgate-Palmolive reports responsible waste handling practices across all plants (4 manufacturing sites) and the head office. The company has a robust waste management system ensuring hazardous waste is disposed of through authorized vendors. A significant achievement in sustainable packaging was noting that 100% of plastic packaging for oral care, toothbrushes, and personal care products was reclaimed.

Social Impact and Workforce Well-being​

The report provides comprehensive data on the company’s workforce and dedication to fostering an inclusive environment. At the end of the financial year, the total number of employees stood at 2,706, with 1,831 being non-permanent staff. The overall employment structure included 2,421 workers.

Key Workforce Metrics:
The company maintained high levels of commitment regarding employee and worker welfare:


In terms of compensation, the median remuneration/wages for employees other than BoD and KMP stood at ₹20,73,846 for males and ₹20,92,439 for females. Gross wages paid to females constituted 20.30% of total wages in FY 2025-26.

Human Rights and Community Engagement:
The company maintains a robust grievance mechanism for all categories of employees and workers. CSR initiatives are guided by local need assessments, ensuring alignment with community needs and local government bodies (panchayats). The report highlighted several key programs:

• Bright Smiles, Bright Futures®: Aimed at improving oral health through education among children.
• Keep India Smiling Scholarship Program: Providing educational support across various aspirational districts.
• Water Augmentation for Livelihoods & Women Empowerment Program: Focused on water resource management in vulnerable areas.

Governance and Ethical Practices​

Colgate-Palmolive places strong emphasis on ethical conduct and governance oversight. The company maintains an ESG and Corporate Social Responsibility Committee responsible for decision-making regarding sustainability issues.

Risk Management Highlights:
The entity identified several critical materials issues, including Responsible Supply Chain management (rated a Risk) and Business Ethics/Governance/Transparency (rated a Risk & Opportunity). Mitigations include:

• Implementing Supplier Responsible Sourcing Assessment (SRSA) to assess suppliers across labor standards, ethics, safety, and environment.
• Maintaining a zero-retaliation policy for employees reporting discrimination or harassment.

The company also confirmed adherence to various environmental regulations, including detailed metrics on air emissions, water discharge, and greenhouse gas emissions intensity. Furthermore, the entity committed 23,312 International Renewable Energy Certificates (I-RECs) during the reporting period to mitigate GHG emissions.

COLPAL Stock Price Movement​

Shares of Colgate Palmolive (India) Limited slipped by 1.14% on Friday, settling at ₹2047. The equity recorded a traded volume of 136,722 shares.