Colgate is very aware of the impact of waste on the environment and is constantly looking for ways to reduce and reuse waste. The Company’s waste management objectives are, first, to eliminate waste entirely; then to reduce and reuse waste; then to recycle waste; and finally to safely dispose of the remainder. Besides the obvious benefits to the environment, waste reduction leads to increased operating efficiency and cost savings overall.
Colgate’s waste management efforts include searching for new ways to reuse materials and encouraging consumers to recycle.
In the U.S., the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) mandates that all corporations report annually to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the amount of chemicals released into the environment. From 1998 to 2006, Colgate’s total U.S. SARA 313 releases averaged approximately 2.91 tons per year.
Also in the U.S., hazardous waste is defined by the Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (RCRA). Colgate has worked to reduce hazardous waste. This information is reported in our environmental key performance indicator chart.
