Crest
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About Crest
Crest stands as one of America's most recognized oral hygiene brands, leveraging nearly seven decades of dental care innovation since 1955. Operating under Procter & Gamble's extensive consumer goods portfolio, the brand maintains market leadership through fluoride toothpaste formulations, whitening systems, and comprehensive oral care solutions widely endorsed by dental associations.
The brand's sustainability profile reflects its parent company's significant environmental commitments, including science-based climate targets and renewable energy adoption across manufacturing operations. However, Crest's sustainability approach remains largely integrated within P&G's broader corporate initiatives rather than developing brand-specific environmental or ethical programs.
Within the competitive oral care landscape, Crest's positioning emphasizes clinical efficacy and regulatory compliance over sustainability differentiation, with ingredient transparency and social impact programs representing the primary areas of documented environmental and social responsibility engagement.
The Good Stuff
Where Crest appears to be making meaningful progress. We cross-referenced these findings with multiple independent sources.
Science-Based Climate Commitments
Backed by parent company's 99% renewable electricity achievement and validated 65% emissions reduction target by 2030 through Science-Based Targets Initiative
Comprehensive Oral Health Impact
Delivers significant social impact through 'Closing America's Smile Gap' program, providing millions of products and educational resources to underserved communities
Transparent Ingredient Disclosures
Maintains detailed formula transparency with comprehensive ingredient listings including fluoride types, glycerin, abrasives, and SLS specifications across product lines
The Reality Check
Areas where the publicly available data gets murky, incomplete, or concerning. We're transparent about the limitations of our analysis.
Animal Testing Policy Gaps
Not certified cruelty-free by major verification bodies, with documented allowances for testing when required by regulatory authorities
Brand-Specific Sustainability Void
Lacks dedicated brand-level programs for labor standards, supply chain auditing, biodiversity protection, and wildlife conservation initiatives
Chemical Safety Policy Absence
No evidence of PFAS-free commitments or green chemistry policies despite detailed ingredient disclosures across product formulations
Crest's
Impact Aura
A visual representation of Crest's positive impact
across People, Planet and Animals
Each colored area represents the brand's performance in that sustainability category. The size and intensity of each blob corresponds to their score—larger, more vibrant areas indicate stronger performance.
Our Research
Key findings from our comprehensive analysis of Crest's sustainability performance across People, Planet & Animals impact.
Positive Impact on People
Research Highlights
- Ingredient safety demonstrates detailed formula disclosures including fluoride types, glycerin, abrasives, and SLS specifications
- Social impact initiatives through 'Closing America's Smile Gap' program delivered millions of products and educational resources
- Marketing integrity supported by ADA recognition and scientific backing for stannous fluoride formulations
- Labor practices documentation limited to parent company general ethics without brand-specific verification
- Supply chain transparency lacks specific supplier audit systems for oral care ingredient sourcing
Evidence Strength
Strong documentation for ingredient safety and social impact programs, limited verification for labor and supply chain practices
Positive Impact on Planet
Research Highlights
- Climate action demonstrates 99% renewable electricity achievement and 65% emissions reduction target by 2030
- Packaging innovation targets 100% recyclable tubes in major regions by 2025 through parent company initiatives
- Water stewardship shows efficiency improvements at oral care manufacturing sites
- Biodiversity protection programs absent from brand-specific or oral care division initiatives
- Chemical responsibility lacks PFAS-free commitments or green chemistry policy disclosures
Evidence Strength
Excellent documentation for climate and packaging initiatives through parent company programs, significant gaps in biodiversity and chemical policies
Positive Impact on Animals
Research Highlights
- Cruelty-free status not achieved with documented testing allowances when required by regulatory authorities
- Vegan certification absent due to potential animal-derived ingredients in product formulations
- Wildlife conservation support programs not identified within brand or oral care division initiatives
- Sustainable sourcing verification lacking for animal-derived ingredients across product lines
- Conservation funding partnerships absent from brand-specific environmental commitment portfolio
Evidence Strength
Comprehensive verification confirms absence of cruelty-free certification and vegan formulations with clear documentation
See the Receipts
We don't just make claims—here are the official certifications that prove Crest's sustainability commitments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Crest sustainable?
Crest demonstrates strong sustainability performance through its parent company's climate commitments and renewable energy adoption, but lacks brand-specific environmental initiatives. The brand shows particular strength in social impact through oral health programs and maintains transparent ingredient disclosures, though gaps exist in cruelty-free certification and chemical safety policies.
Is Crest cruelty-free?
Crest is not certified cruelty-free by major verification organizations and maintains policies that allow testing when required by regulatory authorities. Independent verification confirms the brand does not meet cruelty-free standards established by recognized certification bodies.
Does Crest have vegan products?
Crest does not offer vegan-certified products and independent verification indicates potential animal-derived ingredients in their formulations. The brand lacks vegan certification from recognized third-party organizations.
What are Crest's climate commitments?
Crest benefits from its parent company's robust climate action including 99% renewable electricity achievement and science-based targets for 65% emissions reduction by 2030. These commitments are validated by the Science-Based Targets Initiative and demonstrate strong climate performance.
Is Crest packaging recyclable?
Crest is working toward 100% recyclable tubes in major regions by 2025 through parent company packaging initiatives. This represents significant progress in packaging sustainability, though brand-specific recycling programs are not documented.
Does Crest support community programs?
Crest demonstrates strong social impact through the 'Closing America's Smile Gap' program, which has delivered millions of products and educational resources to underserved communities. This initiative represents substantial community engagement focused on oral health access.
Are Crest ingredients safe?
Crest maintains comprehensive ingredient transparency with detailed formula disclosures including fluoride types, abrasives, and other components. The brand provides extensive ingredient information, though lacks external safety verification beyond regulatory compliance.
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The Bottom Line
Crest demonstrates strong sustainability performance through parent company climate commitments and meaningful social impact programs, while maintaining comprehensive ingredient transparency. However, the brand shows significant gaps in cruelty-free certification, brand-specific environmental initiatives, and chemical safety policies that limit its overall sustainability profile.