Tom's of Maine sustainability score: 41/100
Tom's of Maine makes natural toothpaste, deodorant and other personal care products, with offices in Kennebunk and a factory in Sanford, Maine. It has been part of Colgate-Palmolive since 2006 and describes itself as a public benefit corporation.
More about Tom's of Maine
It publishes no staff or revenue figure of its own.
Head office Kennebunk, United StatesStaff Not publishedRevenue Not publishedWebsite ↗
Tom's of Maine puts its own footprint at 55,750 tCO2e for 2023, down from 95,591 t in 2020. The figure is labelled estimated and is not assured, and it gives shares rather than tonnes by scope. Its 100% renewable electricity at Sanford rests on purchased certificates, which earn no credit. Its goal to recover the equivalent of the plastic it sells is not met and relies on funded recovery. In September 2023 TINA.org filed complaints with the FTC and two state attorneys general alleging its recyclable tube claim is deceptive; no regulator outcome was found, and a class action is pending. An FDA warning letter of November 2024 cites the water system at Sanford, a manufacturing matter that is not deducted.
Tom's of Maine scores 41/100 (Below expectations) on SINK's independent climate assessment, scored from public data only. Scores are free. Companies can never pay for anything about their own score. Last verified November 2026.
That places Tom's of Maine joint 398th of 1,017 companies scored, and joint 18th of 57 in FMCG / Consumer Goods.
What is Tom's of Maine doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Carbon Footprint: Supply Chain and Emissions Trajectory (6/10, 6/10). Weakest on Water Impact and Energy Source (2/10, 3/10).
Where Tom's of Maine lost points
For each question that lost points, the evidence our public rubric looks for that we didn't find.
- Emissions from its own operations5/10No full Scope 1 and 2 figures worked out to the GHG Protocol.
- Emissions from its supply chain6/10No full value-chain map or supplier engagement programme.
- Whether its emissions are falling6/10No consistent fall over several years across its operations and supply chain.
- How clean its energy is3/10No renewable energy tariff or major efficiency investment shown.
- Its effect on nature3/10No assessment of its effect on nature, and no basic environmental policy.
- How it uses materials and handles waste5/10No measurable waste or recycling targets reported publicly.
- Its effect on water2/10No monitoring of water use, or no measures to reduce it.
- Its climate targets4/10Its targets aren't science-based or committed to the Science Based Targets initiative.
- How openly it reports6/10No annual impact report, or no pay linked to climate targets.
- Its record on controversies6/10Points deducted for controversies or its business model. The finding is under question 10.
A score changes when the evidence does. We use new published evidence at the next rescore. Anyone can send us new evidence, free. How to send it.
How is Tom's of Maine's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is Tom's of Maine's score based on?
15 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
40% of them were published by Tom's of Maine itself; the rest come from independent sources.
9 of 15 sources are independent of the company.
“Scope 1 and Scope 2) in 2021 are relatively modest”
“not being sorted for recycling but rather designated for the landfill”
“which is unusual but provides welcome added transparency”
“with a $2 million commitment over three years”
“While some communities may not yet accept these tubes”
“You recovered Pseudomonas aeruginosa in multiple (b)(4) water samples, from June 2021 to October 2022.”
“The FDA cited an "inadequate water system" at the plant”
“publish emissions data with third-party verification”
“Falsely advertising toothpaste tubes as recyclable”
“We became a part of the Colgate-Palmolive company in 2006”
“TINA.org found Colgate-Palmolive deceptively marketing its Colgate and Tom's of Maine toothpaste tubes as recyclable”
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How does Tom's of Maine compare with other fmcg / consumer goods companies?
Where Tom's of Maine sits among fmcg / consumer goods peers.
Among the 57 major fmcg / consumer goods brands we've scored, Tom's of Maine is tied =18th of 57, with 5 others.
Who scores higher in FMCG / Consumer Goods?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above Tom's of Maine.
Estée Lauder has locked in strong operational emissions reductions (37.6% since 2018) and renewable energy, but Scope 3 emissions—95% of its footprint—rose 10% absolute while targets remain intensity-based.
See the breakdown →Lush last printed group tonnes for FY24: 197,627 t, made up of 3,730 t of Scope 1, 8,569 t of location-based Scope 2 and 185,328 t of Scope 3.
See the breakdown →General Mills reports comprehensively on Scope 1 and 2 emissions with third-party verification and has nearly reached 100% renewable electricity.
See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
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