Colgate-Palmolive
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Consumer products |
| Founded | 1806 |
| Founder | William Colgate |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | Worldwide (approximately 200 countries) |
Key people | Noel Wallace (Chairman), John P. Bilbrey, Lisa M. Edwards, C. Martin Harris, Martina Hund-Mejean, Kimberly A. Nelson, Lorrie M. Norrington, Steve Cahillane, John T. Cahill, Stephen Sadove (Board of Directors as of 2023) |
| Products | Household, personal care, health care, veterinary products |
| Website | www |
The Colgate-Palmolive Company, widely recognized as Colgate-Palmolive, is a United States-based multinational entity specializing in consumer products. Its headquarters are located on Park Avenue in the Midtown Manhattan area of New York City. The company focuses on manufacturing, distributing, and supplying products in the household, personal care, health care, and veterinary sectors.
History and founding
The enterprise traces its origins to 1806 when William Colgate, an English immigrant and committed Baptist, established William Colgate & Company in New York City. Initially, the business produced starch, soap, and candles. Following William Colgate’s death in 1857, his son Samuel Colgate restructured the company and introduced the Cashmere Bouquet soap in 1872. The firm debuted its first toothpaste product in 1873 and was a pioneer in packaging toothpaste in tubes with the launch of Colgate Ribbon Dental Cream in 1896. That same year saw the creation of one of the earliest applied research laboratories under Martin Ittner’s guidance. By 1908, toothpaste tube sales had become widespread.
Concurrently, the B. J. Johnson Company from Milwaukee created Palmolive soap in 1898 using palm and olive oils, later adopting the name Palmolive in 1917. By the early 1900s, Palmolive had become the leading soap brand worldwide.
In 1928, a merger between Palmolive-Peet Co. and Colgate Co. united three prominent American soap and perfumery firms to form the Colgate Palmolive Peet Company. This consolidation resulted in combined sales exceeding $100 million (as of 1927) and included manufacturing operations throughout the United States and fourteen other countries. The company was reorganized into its current joint venture structure as the Colgate-Palmolive Company in 1953.
Competition with P&G
Colgate-Palmolive has maintained a long-standing rivalry with Procter & Gamble (P&G), a dominant global manufacturer of soap and detergent products such as Crest toothpaste. Following World War II, P&G’s introduction of Tide laundry detergent shifted consumer preferences away from Colgate’s soap offerings. Additionally, Colgate lost its top spot in the toothpaste market when P&G incorporated fluoride into Crest and Gleem (discontinued in 2014). However, Colgate has since regained its leading sales position.
During television’s early years, Colgate-Palmolive sponsored two soap operas—The Doctors on NBC and ABC’s One Life To Live—to rival P&G’s extensive sponsorship of soap operas. The company supported The Doctors from 1963 until its cancellation in 1982 but withdrew from TV sponsorship afterward. P&G continued backing soap operas until As the World Turns concluded in 2010.
Leadership under George Henry Lesch, who held roles as president, CEO, and chairman during the 1960s and 1970s, brought significant corporate restructuring that modernized Colgate-Palmolive’s organizational framework and business approach.
Recent years
In 2005, Colgate divested several less profitable detergent brands—including Fab, Dynamo, Arctic Power, ABC, Cold Power, and Fresh Start—along with the North American laundry detergent license for Ajax to Phoenix Brands. This strategic decision allowed the company to concentrate on higher-margin segments such as oral care, personal care, and pet care products.
The following year, Colgate expanded its natural personal care portfolio by acquiring natural toothpaste producer Tom's of Maine for US$100 million. Founded by Tom Chappell in 1970, Tom's of Maine complemented Colgate’s existing product range.
In 2020, Colgate-Palmolive enhanced its presence in subscription-based oral health markets by acquiring Hello Products LLC, a rapidly growing premium oral care brand based in the United States.
Operating through subsidiaries in approximately 200 countries worldwide, Colgate is publicly traded on stock exchanges in the United States, India, and Pakistan. On October 25, 2012, the company announced plans to reduce its workforce by 2,310 employees (6%) by 2016 to boost operational efficiency.
In terms of recognition, Colgate ranked 184th on the 2018 Fortune 500 list based on revenue and was named the 15th Most Trusted Brand by Morning Consult in 2021.
Educational and community engagement
Originally known as Madison University in New York, the institution was renamed Colgate University in 1890 to honor the Colgate family's long-standing financial contributions. The Colgate-Palmolive Company is the sponsor of the Colgate Women's Games, recognized as the largest amateur track competition for girls ranging from elementary school through college levels. This event takes place annually in Brooklyn and concludes at Madison Square Garden in New York City. For more than two decades, the company has been a supporter of the Starlight Children Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting seriously ill children through educational and entertainment initiatives.
Colgate's official website provides child-friendly educational materials, including animated videos and tooth brushing songs featuring its former mascot, Dr. Rabbit.
Ethical practices
In 2011, PETA acknowledged Colgate-Palmolive for limiting animal testing strictly to cases mandated by government authorities while actively pursuing alternative methods. This stance corresponds with the company’s decision to remain active in the Chinese market, where animal testing is still a legal requirement—a strategic choice that sets it apart from competitors who have withdrawn from this region.
The acquisition of an 84% interest in Tom's of Maine in 2006 allowed Colgate to broaden its range of natural personal care products. Despite growing concerns about health and environmental risks, the company continued using triclosan in its flagship Total toothpaste brand as of 2011.
By January 2024, Ethical Consumer assigned Colgate-Palmolive low ratings across various ethical dimensions, including sourcing of palm oil, supply chain transparency, climate change policies, executive compensation, taxation practices, human rights adherence, and animal welfare standards.
Environmental performance
Colgate-Palmolive was honored with the 2012 Safe-in-Sound Excellence in Hearing Loss Prevention Award for its efforts in workplace safety.
Tracing its corporate lineage back to the Mennen Company, Colgate-Palmolive was among approximately 300 entities identified in 2017 as potentially liable for hazardous waste contamination at the Chemsol Superfund site located in Piscataway, New Jersey. Their activities contributed to pollution involving volatile organic compounds (VOCs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and lead across roughly 18,500 cubic yards of soil. A proposed settlement valued at $23 million would obligate Colgate-Palmolive and other parties to finance remediation efforts targeting soil and groundwater pollution.
In 2019, BreakFreeFromPlastic listed Colgate-Palmolive among the top ten global plastic polluters. Although the company pledged to achieve full recyclability of its plastic packaging by 2025, it did not commit to reducing its use of virgin plastic materials.
A report by Global Witness in 2021, updated in 2022, implicated suppliers of Colgate-Palmolive’s palm oil in acts involving bribery, violence against local communities, and child labor within Papua New Guinea. The Rainforest Action Network (RAN) assigned the company an "F" grade for deforestation and human rights violations in 2021 and a "D-" rating in 2023. In August 2021, Colgate-Palmolive revealed information concerning the environmental impact associated with its palm oil supply chain based in North Sumatra, Indonesia.
Concerning climate initiatives, Planet Tracker reported in June 2023 that Colgate-Palmolive is projected to fall short of its Science-Based Targets emissions goals by a factor of seven when excluding optional indirect use emissions. The company currently lacks a comprehensive plan to address upstream Scope 3 emissions; emissions from targeted sectors have increased over a five-year period. Sustainability Beat cautioned in August 2023 that this shortfall poses risks to profitability and exposes the company to accusations of greenwashing.
As of 2024, Ethical Consumer rated Colgate-Palmolive poorly for its approaches to climate change mitigation, plastic consumption, and palm oil-related deforestation but recognized it positively for avoiding toxic chemicals in its product formulations.
Corporate governance
As of August 2023, Colgate-Palmolive's board of directors comprises prominent leaders including Noel Wallace, John P. Bilbrey, Lisa M. Edwards, C. Martin Harris, Martina Hund-Mejean, Kimberly A. Nelson, Lorrie M. Norrington, Steve Cahillane, John T. Cahill, and Stephen Sadove. This group is instrumental in directing the company’s strategic initiatives and overseeing its organizational framework.
Employment diversity
Colgate-Palmolive has earned recognition as one of the "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers" by Working Mother magazine and was awarded an A rating in 2012 by the Human Rights Campaign for its efforts in promoting workplace diversity. Nonetheless, Ethical Consumer points out deficiencies related to transparency within the supply chain and mechanisms for addressing worker grievances, which could affect the company’s standing regarding human rights adherence.
Response to Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Following Russia’s 2022 military action in Ukraine, Colgate-Palmolive ceased imports and sales operations in Russia except for critical health and hygiene products. The company also stopped capital expenditures, advertising campaigns, and promotional activities within that market. As of December 2024, the company’s presence in Russia remains uncertain, reflecting a prudent approach to managing geopolitical risks.
Brands
Colgate-Palmolive offers a broad array of products spanning household and personal care, health care, food items, and industrial supplies. Its international brand lineup includes notable names such as:
- Afta Lotion
- Ajax
- Axion
- Caprice (Mexico)
- Cibaca (India)
- Cold Power
- Colgate (toothpaste)
- Colodent (Poland)
- Darlie (Southeast Asia)
- Dentagard (Germany)
- Duraphat (fluoride varnish)
- Dynamo (detergent)
- Elmex (toothpaste)
- EltaMD (skincare)
- Fab (detergent)
- Fabuloso (all-purpose cleaner)
- Filorga (cosmetics; France)
- Fresh Start (detergent)
- Hill's Pet Nutrition
- Irish Spring
- Kolynos
- La Croix (bleach; France)
- Mennen
- Meridol (toothpaste)
- Murphy Oil Soap
- Palmolive
- PCA Skin
- Pousse Mousse (acquired from S. C. Johnson & Son)
- Profidén (Spain)
- Protex (soap)
- Sanex
- Science Diet
- Skin Bracer
- Softsoap
- Speed Stick
- Suavitel (Mexico)
- Tahiti (France, Belgium, Switzerland)
- Teen Spirit
- Tom's of Maine
- Ultra Brite
This comprehensive portfolio enhances Colgate-Palmolive’s market presence across key territories and strengthens its competitive positioning among various consumer segments globally.
Discontinued products and former brands
- Ajax Laundry Detergent (Ajax Cleanser still produced by CP)
- Ad (detergent)
- Bambeanos
- Brisk (fluoride toothpaste)
- Burst (detergent)
- Cue (fluoride toothpaste)
- Cashmere Bouquet (soap)
- Cherish (cinnamon-flavored toothpaste)
- Cold Power detergent; Canadian version Arctic Power; Australian and New Zealand rights sold to Henkel in May 2015
- Coleo (soap)
- Colgate Tooth Powder and Colgate Chlorophyll Tooth Powder
- Colgate Toothpaste with Chlorophyll
- Dynamo laundry detergent no longer produced by CP in the U.S.
- Fab Detergent no longer produced by CP in the U.S.
- Fab One Shot (detergent)
- Florient (room deodorizer)
- Halo Shampoo
- Kolynos toothpaste**
- Lustre-Creme Shampoo
- Octagon (soap)
- Palmolive Rapid Shave
- Colgate's Peter Pan Beauty Bar with Chlorophyll
- Soaky (children’s bubble bath)
- Super Suds (detergent)
- Swerl (liquid cleanser)
- Vel (dishwashing detergent)
Notes:
Several detergent brands continue to be sold internationally under Colgate-Palmolive ownership; however, U.S. rights were transferred to Phoenix Brands in 2005. After Phoenix Brands filed for bankruptcy in May 2016, those rights were acquired by Fab & Kind Company.
In May 2015, Colgate-Palmolive divested its Australian laundry detergent and pre-wash product lines to Henkel for $245 million USD. The company also withdrew from detergent markets in Colombia and parts of Asia through sales to Unilever and Procter & Gamble respectively.
- Although no longer marketed in the U.S., brands such as Kolynos toothpaste are still manufactured internationally.
Facilities
Within the United States, the company oversees nearly 60 locations, owning 14 of them. Until 2014, essential manufacturing and distribution centers for oral, personal, and home care products were situated in Morristown, New Jersey. Subsequently, these operations were relocated to Hodges, South Carolina, Morristown, Tennessee, and Cambridge, Ohio. The pet nutrition division maintains significant facilities in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Emporia, Kansas, Topeka, Kansas, and Richmond, Indiana. The main research hubs are positioned in Piscataway, New Jersey for oral care innovation and in Topeka, Kansas for pet nutrition development.
Globally, the enterprise manages roughly 280 sites across more than 70 countries, with ownership of 80 properties. Key international manufacturing locations for oral, personal, and home care products are distributed throughout Australia, Brazil, China, Colombia, France, India, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Poland, South Africa, Thailand, Venezuela, Vietnam, among others.
Since 2004, as part of a strategic restructuring initiative designed to improve operational effectiveness and support growth objectives, Colgate-Palmolive has phased out or closed multiple facilities while simultaneously investing in advanced production plants for toothpaste in the U.S., Mexico, and Poland.
The principal manufacturing facility located in Burlington Township, New Jersey is responsible for producing fragrance and flavor oils that are supplied worldwide to complement the company’s product portfolio.
Advertising
The well-known hand image appearing on the Palmolive dishwashing soap label was modeled by Elizabeth Barbour. This visual originated from a 1985 photograph taken during a brand refresh by Colgate-Palmolive. Barbour was engaged through the Ford Agency based in New York City to create this iconic representation.