Recycle, buy local, consume less… but not necessarily use less. According to a study conducted by OpinionWay for Colgate-Palmolive, using the right amount of everyday products remains a largely underestimated lever in responsible consumption practices.
This survey was conducted in April 2025 among a panel of more than 1,000 French people.
While 59% of respondents cited recycling or reusing packaging as their first eco-friendly reflex, 53% favored buying products made in France and 45% favored reducing their purchases.
Following recommended dosages came in sixth place (28%).
However, eight out of ten French people say they “often or always” pay attention to the quantities they use. But in reality, the recommendations are far from being followed. 68% of respondents admit that they do not follow the recommended dosage for toothpaste. “This figure reveals that usage is primarily automatic, based on ingrained habits, a perception of effectiveness reinforced by quantity… or simply a lack of information.”
A simple gesture with a big impact
For Colgate-Palmolive, these discrepancies show that education remains essential in encouraging concrete actions on a daily basis.
Overusing a product may seem harmless, but the consequences add up: wasted resources, increased energy consumption for production, and additional waste after use.
Conversely, following the recommended dosages is both environmentally and economically beneficial. This limits environmental impact while extending the life of the products.
Despite these figures, the study reveals …
