NEW DELHI (India CSR): In a landmark year marked by accelerated progress and profound human impact, Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited (CPIL) has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to societal well-being, investing significantly more than its statutory obligation in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs. For the Financial Year 2024-25, the oral care giant channeled Rs 33.67 crore into initiatives designed to foster oral health, empower communities, and champion environmental stewardship across the nation. This substantial investment surpassed the company’s computed CSR obligation of Rs 30.87 crore, showcasing a deep-rooted dedication to its purpose of “reimagining a healthier future for all people and our planet”.
Colgate-Palmolive (India) operates under its “SMILE Based Targets” framework, a strategic lens that ensures value creation is both meaningful and measurable. This framework, powered by bold innovation and amplified sustainability action, drives the company’s momentum to consistently raise the bar, with human impact at the core of its journey.
Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited for FY 2025: Highlights
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Company Name | Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited (CPIL) |
| Financial Year | 2025 |
| CSR Obligation | Rs 30.87 crore |
| Total CSR Spent | Rs 33.67 crore |
| Excess CSR Spend | Rs 2.80 crore (includes carryforward from FY 2023–24) |
| Direct CSR Project Spend | Rs 33.08 crore |
| Administrative Overheads | Rs 31 lakhs |
| Impact Assessment Spend | Rs 28 lakhs |
| CSR Focus Areas | Oral health, education, financial inclusion, sustainability |
| Key Oral Health Initiatives | OHM campaign (4.5M+ users); BSBF program (8.2M children, 11 states) |
| Scholarships Awarded (FY25) | ~1,000 students |
| Total Scholarships Since 2019 | 7,300+ |
| Women & PwD Trained in Digital Literacy | 77,000+ |
| Govt Scheme Linkages Facilitated | Rs 120 crore |
| Colgate Digital Sakhis Trained | 360+ |
| Water Repurposed (FY25) | 22 million liters |
| Cumulative Water Repurposed (Since 2018) | 427 million liters |
| Waste Collected (FY25) | 133,000 kg dry waste |
| Carbon Emissions Diverted | 90,000 kg |
| Energy Saved | Over 1,018,000 kWh |
| Beneficiaries from Waste Program | 143,900+ individuals in 25 villages |
| Green Jobs Created | 100 |
| Recyclable Toothpaste Tubes (By Volume) | 80% (Target: 100% by end of 2025) |
| Renewable Electricity Usage | 33% (Target: 100% by 2030) |
| Net Zero Water Plants | 3 (Sanand, Goa, Sri City) |
| Zero Waste to Landfill Certification | All 4 manufacturing units |
| Net Zero Carbon Goal | By 2040 |
| Awards & Recognition (FY25) | Indian Social Impact Awards, CSR Times Gold, Karma Summit Awards |
| Governing Body for CSR/ESG | ESG & Corporate Social Responsibility Committee (Board-level oversight) |
A Commitment Beyond Compliance
CPIL’s CSR expenditure for FY 2024-25, totaling Rs 33.67 crore, reflects a proactive and purposeful approach to corporate responsibility. This includes Rs 33.08 crore allocated directly to CSR projects, Rs 31 lakhs for administrative overheads, and Rs 28 lakhs for impact assessments. The amount also includes an unspent balance of Rs 2.80 crore from the previous Financial Year (2023-24) that was utilized to further amplify current year’s initiatives. This strategic spending is aligned with the company’s 2025 Sustainability and Social Impact Strategy, which focuses on driving social impact, helping millions of homes, and preserving our environment.
Igniting Brighter Smiles Across India
At the heart of CPIL’s social mission lies the transformation of oral health across India, a country where 9 out of 10 individuals suffer from oral health issues and a significant portion of the population doesn’t brush daily.
- The Colgate Oral Health Movement (OHM): Launched as a nationwide campaign, OHM aims to revolutionize oral care engagement by leveraging cutting-edge technology. In FY 2024-25, this AI-powered dental screening tool, accessible via WhatsApp in nine Indian languages, empowered nearly 4.5 million Indians to self-screen their oral health. A remarkable one-sixth of these individuals (approximately 750,000) subsequently visited a dentist, showcasing the initiative’s success in actively shaping health behavior. The campaign reached over 550 million people through an integrated multi-touchpoint strategy.
- Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures® (BSBF) Program: This flagship initiative, active since 1990, continued its transformative impact by reaching over 8.2 million children in 25,000 schools across 11 states in FY 2024-25 alone. The program, which has cumulatively impacted over 185 million children and their families since its inception, focuses on imparting crucial oral hygiene practices, the importance of twice-daily brushing, the connection between nutrition and dental health, and the harmful effects of tobacco. CPIL has forged significant partnerships with state governments, notably in Uttar Pradesh and Goa, to expand the reach of this vital in-school program, aligning with national agendas for oral health promotion.
Empowering Lives, Cultivating Self-Reliance
Colgate-Palmolive (India) extends its impact beyond oral care to foster education, financial independence, and improved livelihoods.
- Keep India Smiling Scholarship Program: Addressing the critical challenge of financial limitations hindering meritorious students, this program has awarded more than 7,300 scholarships since 2019. In FY 2024-25, approximately 1,000 students received support, enabling them to pursue education in diverse fields like Dentistry, Engineering, and Sports. The initiative’s holistic approach includes comprehensive upskilling via an innovative Learning Management System, focusing on personality development, language skills, and career guidance, empowering young individuals like Rithika, Meera, and Vedant to pursue their dreams of providing affordable dental care, bridging oral health gaps, and safeguarding cyberspace.
- Financial and Digital Literacy for Women and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs): Recognizing the digital and financial gap in rural communities, CPIL launched this initiative in partnership with Seva Mandir and Haqdarshak. Operating across five states, the program trained over 77,000 women and PwDs in FY 2024-25, fostering financial and social inclusion. The program also facilitated Rs 120 crore worth of government scheme linkages, significantly impacting beneficiaries like Sapna and Raval who gained vital financial support and safe housing, respectively. The initiative has trained over 360 Colgate Digital Sakhis, local women who act as changemakers, delivering practical digital and financial education at the village level.
Stewarding Our Planet’s Future
CPIL’s commitment to sustainability is woven into its operations and community initiatives, focusing on environmental stewardship and resource conservation.
- Water Augmentation for Livelihoods & Women Empowerment: In partnership with Seva Mandir, this program addresses water scarcity and economic challenges in Rajasthan. In FY 2024-25, it resulted in 22 million liters of water repurposed, benefiting over 1,500 livelihood beneficiaries who experienced an average 30% rise in annual income. Since 2018, the program has cumulatively repurposed over 427 million liters of water across 148 villages, strengthening Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and cultivating change, as exemplified by Kalki Morwal’s success in marigold farming.
- Rural Waste Management Program: Collaborating with Nepra Foundation in Gujarat and Goa, this initiative tackled improper waste disposal and lack of awareness. To date, it has created 100 green jobs, collected over 133,000 kg of dry waste, diverted 90,000 kg of carbon emissions, and saved over 1,018,000 kWh of energy, benefiting more than 143,900 individuals across 25 villages. The program empowers local champions and inspires behavior change, transforming waste management into a community empowerment opportunity.
CPIL’s environmental efforts extend throughout its operations. The company is on track to transition 100% of its toothpaste portfolio to recyclable tubes by the end of 2025, with 80% already achieved by volume. It has deployed 33% renewable electricity across its operations, moving towards a goal of 100% renewable electricity by 2030 and Net Zero Carbon by 2040. Furthermore, all four of its manufacturing units maintain TRUE Zero Waste to Landfill certification, and three plants (Sanand, Goa, and Sri City) have achieved Net Zero Water status through harvesting initiatives, significantly reducing their environmental footprint and enhancing resource efficiency.
The Blueprint for Sustainable Growth
Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited’s commitment to responsible growth is underpinned by strong governance and strategic partnerships. The ESG & Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Committee at the Board level oversees ESG-related risks, impacts, and opportunities, ensuring strategic alignment and transparency. The company actively engages with a wide array of stakeholders, including local governments, NGOs, dental professionals, parents, and teachers, to amplify its reach and impact.
This holistic approach has earned CPIL significant recognition. In FY 2024-25, the company received the Indian Social Impact Awards 2024 for “Best Women Empowerment Program” (Water Augmentation & Livelihoods) and “Best Education Project” (BSBF). It also garnered the CSR Times Awards 2024 (GOLD) for its Financial & Digital Literacy Program and the Karma Summit Awards 2024 for “Best Education Related Volunteering Program”. Such accolades underscore the tangible outcomes of CPIL’s disciplined governance framework, built on clarity and consistency, which continues to shape its performance and reinforce its reputation as a responsible and future-ready business.
Paving the Way for a Brighter Future
As Colgate-Palmolive (India) looks ahead, its roadmap is clear: deepen category penetration through habit formation and consumer education, accelerate premiumization through science-led innovation, expand its product portfolio, and continue leveraging technology, data, and AI for agility and precision. The company’s consistent investment in CSR initiatives, well beyond its financial obligations, reaffirms its belief that every smile protected builds a healthier, more confident tomorrow—woven into daily life, driven by science, and fueled by purpose. This sustained commitment promises a future where every Indian can truly smile with confidence, every day, for life.
(India CSR)
