/ 7 July 2020

Colgate-Palmolive South Africa donates one million bars of soap

Safe Hands Colgate
Colgate mobilised five of its manufacturing plants on three continents to produce 25 million bars of soap, packaged with clear instructions on the recommended hand washing routine to amplify the WHO #SafeHands campaign

SPONSORED

  • $20-million in health and hygiene products will be transferred to non-profit organisations across the globe 
  • The company is producing and donating 25 million bars of soap to global organisations in support of the World Health Organization’s #SafeHands initiative
  • This is for the #SafeHands global campaign to support the global Covid-19 relief effort.

In South Africa, Colgate-Palmolive and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have partnered with Save the Children to donate one million bars of soap. This donation will help vulnerable children and families in local communities across various provinces in the country.

According to the WHO, which offers up to date COVID-19 advice to the public, proper handwashing is critical to slow the spread of the disease.  But a combination of difficulty of access to quality soap and a lack of knowledge of how to properly wash hands to kill the virus is a challenge, particularly in many vulnerable communities around the world.

To help overcome these obstacles, Colgate announced on April 3 2020 that it is mobilising five of its manufacturing plants on three continents to produce 25 million bars of soap. The bars are specially packaged with clear instructions on the recommended hand washing routine to amplify the WHO #SafeHands campaign, ensuring that good handwashing practices can continue long after the product itself is finished.

To create greater awareness for proper handwashing, Colgate-Palmolive is promoting the WHO #SafeHands Challenge across various media platforms, and engaging global ambassadors such as Michael Phelps, who serves as ambassador for the Colgate brand’s ongoing “Save Water” initiative.

One of the most important ways we can help stop the spread of this virus is for organisations to bring together the best of what they each do for the greater good. Now more than ever we need to do all that we can to make a difference in our local communities to protect those in need, including the frontline workers and care organisations providing such incredible support.

About Colgate-Palmolive:

Colgate-Palmolive is a leading global consumer products company with 34 000 people dedicated to improving the health and wellness of people and their pets. Focused on oral care, personal care, home care and pet nutrition and reaching more than 200 countries and territories, Colgate teams are developing, producing, distributing and selling health and hygiene products and pet nutrition offerings essential to society through brands such as Colgate, Palmolive, elmex, Tom’s of Maine, hello, Sorriso, Speed Stick, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sanex, Filorga, eltaMD, PCA Skin, Ajax, Axion, Fabuloso, Soupline and Suavitel, as well as Hill’s Science Diet and Hill’s Prescription Diet. 

The company also is recognised for its leadership and innovation in promoting environmental sustainability and community wellbeing, including its achievements in saving water, reducing waste, promoting recyclability and improving the oral health of children through its Bright Smiles, Bright Futures programme, which has reached more than one billion children since 1991.

For more information about Colgate’s global business and how the company is building a future to smile about, visit http://www.colgatepalmolive.com or in South Africa https://www.colgatepalmolive.co.za/