Colgate-Palmolive plans to defend DEI criteria for board selection, letter shows

Core Viewpoint - Colgate-Palmolive intends to oppose a proposal from the National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC) that seeks to remove diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) criteria from the company's board member selection process [1][2]. Group 1: Company Actions and Responses - Colgate-Palmolive plans to ask investors to vote against the NLPC's proposal, emphasizing the importance of DEI in its board member selection [1][4]. - The company highlighted that approximately two-thirds of its net sales are generated from markets outside the United States, indicating a broader market perspective in its DEI commitments [3]. Group 2: Industry Context - The NLPC's proposal is part of a larger trend where several companies, including Goldman Sachs, Walmart, Target, and Meta, have either dropped or are considering changes to their DEI policies due to pressure from conservative groups and the Trump administration [2][3]. - Since 2020, many companies have strengthened their DEI programs in response to social movements, but there has been a noticeable rollback in commitments over the past year as political pressures have increased [3].