The company is working to educate and enable 2 billion people to adopt healthy oral care habits by 2030, while reducing their environmental footprint and enabling responsible consumption.
Procter & Gamble (P&G) Oral Care launched a new set of sustainability commitments. The platform, “Healthy Smiles. Healthy Lives. Healthy Planet,” will guide the company’s oral care brands, including Oral-B and Crest.
Both Oral-B and Crest are working to educate and enable 2 billion people to adopt healthy oral care habits by 2030, reducing their environmental footprint and enabling responsible consumption along the way.
“We are on a mission to help more people around the world understand the connection of their oral care routine to their overall health and how small changes can make a big impact,” said Alexandra Vegas, senior vice president global oral care, P&G. “As we encourage everyone to brush twice daily for two minutes, we’ll continue to introduce products that make people want to build those healthy habits.”
Oral-B and Crest will reportedly focus their efforts on education and advocacy; enabling access to dental products and services; and innovation that makes the adoption of healthy habits enjoyable. The company cites its Oral-B’s free Disney Magic Timer app, which, it reports, is making 90% of kids brush for longer, establishing healthy brushing habits early on in childhood.
To drive healthy habits for people, Oral-B and Crest will improve access to oral care solutions and education to establish better oral health habits and continue to provide safe products with transparency.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, when people couldn’t visit their dental provider, the brands helped protect oral health through educational articles, videos and livestreaming sessions. In the U.S., they have donated millions in product and dental care through their partnerships with Feeding America, Dental Lifeline Network and America’s Tooth Fairy. Oral-B and Crest will continue to partner with dental professionals, retailers and consumers to make progress.
As part of its commitment to the health of the planet, Oral-B and Crest make their packaging 100% recyclable, starting with the transition to recyclable toothpaste tubes in Europe, the U.S., and Canada by 2025.
P&G Oral Care also plans to reduce its environmental footprint and strive for circular solutions while working with suppliers to secure transparent and responsible sourcing. Specific goals include reducing greenhouse gas emissions in operations and improving water efficiency by 35% in P&G sites by 2030.
According to the company, today, P&G Oral Care factories send zero manufacturing waste to landfill globally, and all U.S. and European sites purchase 100% renewable electricity. For people who prefer to use manual toothbrushes, Oral-B Clic features replaceable toothbrush heads that reduce plastic waste by 60%. The company has reportedly improved energy efficiency across its global Oral Care production sites by nearly 20% since 2010.
These goals are part of P&G’s Ambition 2030 Sustainability Program, as well as three United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals: Good Health and Wellbeing, Responsible Consumption and Production, and Reduced Inequality.