In an era where businesses are increasingly being called upon to serve not just shareholders but society at large, Colgate-Palmolive (India) stands out as a company integrating purpose into performance. At the helm of its ESG and CSR vision is Ms Shilpashree Muniswamappa, Director, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) & Communications, Colgate-Palmolive (India). Her leadership is helping shape a future where sustainable practices, inclusive empowerment, and community well-being are not peripheral efforts but central pillars of growth. From water stewardship and rural waste management to empowering women and children through innovative programmes, Colgate’s initiatives are deeply aligned with its broader ESG framework and long-term business goals.
In this insightful conversation, Shilpashree shares how flagship programmes like Keep India Smiling and Bright Smiles, Bright Futures are evolving with the times, leveraging strategic partnerships, digital innovation, and local engagement to drive real impact. She discusses how Colgate is building resilient communities, creating green jobs, and championing behavioural change, all while embedding sustainability at the heart of its operations.
Here are some excerpts from our conversation with her.
Q&A
Q. How does Colgate-Palmolive align its CSR efforts with the broader ESG strategy and long-term business goals in India?
A. At Colgate-Palmolive India, our Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives are intrinsically linked to our overarching ESG strategy and our long-term business vision. We believe that a healthier future, for both people and the planet, is fundamental to sustainable growth. Our CSR programs are designed to create a lasting positive impact, focusing on critical areas like environmental stewardship, enhancing community well-being, and fostering sustainable habits. By concentrating on core themes such as water and waste management, livelihood generation, education, and oral health, our CSR directly supports our broader ESG commitments and business objectives, ensuring we contribute meaningfully to the communities where we operate while building a resilient and responsible business.
Q.Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futureshas reached over 184 million children. What have been the key success factors behind the sustained impact of this programme over the decades?
A. The enduring success of the Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures® program, reaching over 184 million children, is a testament to several key factors. Firstly, its comprehensive and continuously evolving approach, utilizing engaging educational materials, interactive sessions, and fun activities like animations and quizzes, has kept learning dynamic and effective for children. Secondly, strong partnerships, particularly with government schools and state governments, alongside collaborations with global knowledge platforms, have been crucial for scaling our reach and impact. Furthermore, the program's holistic view, extending beyond oral care to include vital topics like tobacco awareness and nutrition, addresses children's health in a more complete way. Finally, consistent monitoring and strategic expansion into new geographies, while always adapting to the local community’s needs and requirements, have ensured the program's continued relevance and effectiveness over the decades.
Q. What innovations or new elements are being introduced in BSBF to engage children more effectively?
A. To ensure the Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures® program remains highly engaging and impactful, we are continuously innovating. A significant evolution has been making the program more holistic, now incorporating essential topics like Right Nutrition and Tobacco prevention alongside oral health education. Our collaboration with ImPAct4Nutrition, a UNICEF India platform, as our knowledge partner, has enriched children’s knowledge and provided them with valuable insights into overall health. We've also incorporated more interactive elements such as engaging animations, catchy jingles, quizzes, and friendly competitions to make learning fun and memorable. Additionally, strengthening statewide partnerships with governments, such as in Uttar Pradesh and Goa, has fostered greater ownership at the local level, enabling us to scale the program effectively and ensure its continued relevance to the children we serve.
Q. The Keep India Smiling initiative shows a strong focus on inclusive empowerment. How are scholarship recipients and Smile Sakhis supported beyond initial training or funding?
A. The Keep India Smiling initiative is deeply committed to inclusive empowerment, providing sustained support beyond initial aid. Scholarship recipients benefit significantly from an innovative LMS-based mentorship program that complements their financial assistance. This holistic approach is designed to nurture their personal and professional growth, encouraging them to pursue their educational goals and future aspirations. Similarly, our Smile Sakhis receive ongoing training and have been empowered as Digital Sakhis. They are equipped to assist communities with scheme applications and provide crucial digital and financial literacy training. The establishment of physical hubs, or Yojana Kendras, serves as vital learning and resource centers, ensuring continuous community engagement, fostering inclusivity, and importantly, enabling these women to build a sustainable income stream for themselves.
Q. What role do partners like Buddy4Study, Haqdarshak, and Seva Mandir play in strengthening the reach and relevance of these programmes?
A. Our partnerships are fundamental to the success, reach, and relevance of our community programs. Buddy4Study is instrumental in managing our scholarship program, ensuring that meritorious and deserving students from underserved communities receive the vital financial aid and mentorship necessary to achieve their professional dreams. Haqdarshak is a key partner in driving digital and financial literacy, working to empower women and people with disabilities by enhancing their financial management skills and facilitating access to essential government schemes, thereby improving their and their families' self-sufficiency. Seva Mandir collaborates with us on crucial water augmentation and women's empowerment projects, which are vital for driving livelihoods, ensuring access to water for drinking and agriculture, and ultimately, helping communities thrive and achieve significant social and economic growth in rural villages.
Q. In your water augmentation work with Seva Mandir, how do you ensure the sustainability and scalability of water repurposing and livelihood efforts?
A. Our water augmentation work with Seva Mandir is designed with long-term sustainability and scalability in mind. A core element is the restoration of vital water infrastructure like anicuts, wells, and tanks, coupled with comprehensive community training on ongoing maintenance. This approach significantly enhances long-term community resilience to water challenges. The successful access to water enables agricultural diversity, allowing for multiple cropping cycles, which in turn increases incomes and significantly reduces the physical burden on women, thereby supporting scalability. We strategically add new villages each year, expanding our reach while maintaining a strong focus on capacity-building and fostering local ownership, which is critical for the sustained success of these initiatives.
Q. Could you elaborate on how the rural waste management initiative is creating long-term behavioural change around waste segregation and recycling in the communities?
A. Our rural waste management initiative is focused on driving long-term behavioral change through a multi-pronged approach. We conduct extensive community workshops, training sessions, and awareness campaigns to educate residents about the importance of waste segregation, recycling, and reduction. We also develop essential infrastructure like collection centers and composting facilities to make sustainable practices more accessible and convenient. A key aspect is empowering local individuals as 'Safai Saathis,' which not only generates green jobs but also fosters a sense of sustained community responsibility and encourages lasting behavioral change. Engaging educational sessions in schools are crucial for creating future agents of change, instilling responsible waste habits in children. Furthermore, our direct engagement with households and local shopkeepers helps to reinforce the message deeply within the community, significantly contributing to positive behavioral shifts.
Q. How do you ensure that the benefits of these programmes reach the most marginalised populations in the geographies you serve?
A. "Ensuring our programs reach the most marginalized populations is a fundamental principle guiding our initiatives. We specifically target tribal, rural, and underserved communities, utilizing needs assessments to guide resource allocation effectively. We place a special focus on inclusivity, ensuring that women, people with disabilities, and students from underserved backgrounds are prioritized beneficiaries. Working with trusted local partners significantly enhances our reach and builds trust within the most vulnerable groups. Crucially, our interventions are developed and executed in close collaboration with community partners, which not only ensures the programs are relevant and impactful but also fosters local ownership and long-term sustainability."
Q. How does Colgate plan to deepen its ESG commitment in the areas of climate action, circular economy, and equitable community development?
A. Colgate is deeply committed to our ESG efforts across climate action, the circular economy, and equitable community development. Regarding Climate Action, we have set ambitious, science-based targets as part of our Global 2025 Sustainability & Social Impact Strategy. Achieving Net Zero water status at three of our manufacturing plants is a significant step towards reducing our operational footprint, conserving vital natural resources, and building resilience against water scarcity. We are continuously working to reduce our environmental impact, optimize resource usage, and rigorously track key environmental performance indicators to improve efficiency and lower our carbon and water footprints.
In the area of the Circular Economy, our rural waste management initiatives are actively promoting waste segregation and recycling in communities, diverting waste from landfills, and encouraging circular practices. We support the creation of 'green jobs' by empowering local Safai Saathis who manage waste collection and segregation, helping to close material loops. The development of infrastructure like Dry Waste Collection Centers and composting facilities further supports circularity by enabling the repurposing of waste into valuable resources.
For Equitable Community Development, our flagship programs like Keep India Smiling and Bright Smiles, Bright Futures® are centered on community upliftment, empowerment, and education, with a particular focus on women, children, and marginalized groups. We partner with organizations like Buddy4Study, Haqdarshak, and Seva Mandir to expand access to essential resources such as scholarships, digital and financial literacy training, and livelihood opportunities. All our programs are intentionally designed to target underserved geographies and populations, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility for those who need it most.
Looking ahead, we are also embedding ESG principles even deeper within our business strategy through a robust governance framework and proactive stakeholder engagement, aiming to set new industry benchmarks. Our approach of 'Organize, Optimize, and Outperform' ensures that each initiative is structured, efficient, and forward-thinking, driving lasting value for people, the community, and the environment. In essence, Colgate is continuously strengthening its ESG commitment through measurable climate action, championing the circular economy, and advancing inclusive community development, working consistently towards a more sustainable and equitable future for all.
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