Michael Phelps, Family Man and World Champion Swimmer, Continues Global Ambassadorship with Colgate to Inspire the Next Generation to Save Water

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Starting on World Smile Day on October 6, 2017, this youth-focused campaign began engaging kids and teens during Campus Sustainability Month with the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) and TerraCycle^®. In addition to turning off the faucet while brushing, kids and teens can spread awareness using #EveryDropCounts on social media and by learning more at EveryDropCounts.Colgate.com. Held every October, Campus Sustainability Month was founded by AASHE to raise the visibility of sustainability. Throughout the month, colleges and universities organize events to inspire and engage incoming students and campus stakeholders to become sustainability change agents.

Long-time sustainability partner of Colgate, TerraCycle is a global leader in innovative recycling programs helping to recycle nearly three million pieces of oral care product and packaging waste from more than 19,000 locations as part of the Colgate Recycling Program.

On October 19, 2017, Michael Phelps, Colgate and TerraCycle CEO Tom Szaky, visited a top participating school in the Colgate Recycling Program, the Alain L. Locke Magnet School for Environmental Stewardship, to talk about water conservation and how #EveryDropCounts.

"It's harder to break bad habits as you get older, so this is a perfect time for these children to learn good ones such as turning off the faucet while brushing their teeth," said TerraCycle CEO Tom Szaky. "Doing that one small task can make a big difference."

After spending the day teaching water-saving tips and tricks, Michael Phelps gave the elementary students each a water-activated drain sticker to apply to their bathroom sink as a visual reminder to "Turn Off the Faucet." These stickers will be further distributed to 30,000 students who are participating in TerraCycle's recycling efforts with Colgate households when they pledge to turn off the faucet. Each pledge represents a savings of up to eight gallons of clean, drinkable water daily.

"I have always strived to help make a difference in the world," Phelps said. "I spent most of my life in the water, so working to make sure we're conserving it for future generations is a a good place to continue making a positive impact."

As Michael Phelps and wife Nicole await their second child, their family continues to strive to set an example for the next generation. "Boomer is about to be a big brother. If we set a good example for him, he too can be a good example for his little brother or sister," said Phelps.

Separately, since this generation is more digitally connected than ever, Colgate created an Amazon Alexa skill called "Save Water by Colgate." Users can enable the skill to learn a water fact or hear the sound of running water while brushing to "replace" the sound of real water going down the drain. This skill is now available to customers with any Alexa device. Just say, "Alexa, open Save Water by Colgate."

"Colgate products are found in over two-thirds of homes worldwide², but almost all Colgate products require water. Clean water is vital to the communities we serve, yet in many regions of the world it is becoming increasingly scarce," said Lori Michelin, vice president of sustainability & Environmental Health and Safety at Colgate-Palmolive. "Colgate invests in water conservation strategies at our global facilities, but 32% of Colgate's water use footprint is oral care.³ That's why we're reminding everyone that #EveryDropCounts because turning off the faucet can make an incredible impact."

About Colgate-Palmolive
Colgate-Palmolive is a leading global consumer products company, tightly focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition. Colgate sells its products in over 200 countries and territories around the world under such internationally recognized brand names as Colgate, Palmolive, Speed Stick, Lady Speed Stick, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sorriso, Kolynos, elmex, Tom's of Maine, Sanex, Ajax, Axion, Fabuloso, Soupline, and Suavitel, as well as Hill's Science Diet, Hill's Prescription Diet and Hill's Ideal Balance. For more information about Colgate's global business, visit the Company's web site at colgatepalmolive.com. To learn more about Colgate's global oral health education program, Bright Smiles, Bright Futures™, please visit colgatebsbf.com.

About Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympian in history, capturing a total of 28 medals including a record-setting 23 gold medals, over the course of five Olympic Games. Phelps utilized his performance bonus for winning eight gold medals at 2008 Beijing Games to establish the Michael Phelps Foundation. Committed to growing the sport of swimming, the Foundation addresses the need for water-safety through its signature program – im – available through the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Special Olympics International. The most decorated swimmer in World Championships history, Phelps launched his own competitive swimwear brand – MP – in partnership with Aqua Sphere in 2014. He has published two autobiographies – No Limits: The Will to Success and Beneath the Surface – that were New York Times and USA Today best sellers, as well as published one children's book – How to Train with a T-Rex and Win Eight Gold Medals. He is a highly regarded mental health advocate and inspirational speaker, sharing his message of "Dream, Plan, Reach" with audiences ranging from children to business executives.

About AASHE
AASHE empowers higher education administrators, faculty, staff and students to be effective change agents and drivers of sustainability innovation. AASHE enables members to translate information into action by offering essential resources and professional development to a diverse, engaged community of sustainability leaders. We work with and for higher education to ensure that our world's future leaders are motivated and equipped to solve sustainability challenges. For more information, visit www.aashe.org. Follow AASHE on Facebook and Twitter.

About TerraCycle 
Founded in 2001, TerraCycle, Inc., is the world's leader in the collection and repurposing of hard-to-recycle post-consumer waste, ranging from used cigarette butts to coffee capsules to pens. The waste is collected through free, national, brand-funded recycling programs, as well as various consumer and government-funded models. The collected waste is turned into a variety of raw materials that are sold to manufacturers to produce new products. Each year, across 21 countries, TerraCycle collects and repurposes billions of pieces of waste, donating millions of dollars to schools and charities in the process. To learn more about TerraCycle or get involved in our recycling programs, please visit www.terracycle.com.

¹ http://www.epa.gov/watersense

² https://www.kantarworldpanel.com/brand-footprint-ranking/#/

³ https://www.colgatepalmolive.com/CPCorp16/en/us/corp/locale-assets/pdf/CPSustainability_2016_Full_Report%20061417.pdf (Excludes Colgate-Palmolive pet nutrition business)

SOURCE Colgate-Palmolive