Environmental protection
PRINCIPLE 7: Precautionary approach to environmental challenges
PRINCIPLE 8: Promotion of greater environmental responsibility
PRINCIPLE 9: Environmentally friendly technologies
Commitments and management systems
METRO environment guidelines
Energy management systems in accordance with ISO 50001
METRO climate protection target: reducing greenhouse gas emissions per m2 of selling and delivery space by 50% from 376 kg CO2e/m2 in 2011 to 188 kg CO2e/m2 in 2030
SBTi approved METRO Science Based Target: "METRO AG commits to reduce scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 60% per m2 selling and delivery space by 2030 from a 2011 base year."
METRO AG also commits to reduce absolute scope 3 GHG emissions 15% by 2030 from a 2018 base year.
METRO Water Policy published
Buying policy for sustainable sourcing, also specific purchasing guidelines on fish, palm oil, paper & wood, soy and packaging
International standards along the supply chain (GlobalG.A.P., IFS)
The Consumer Goods Forum’s Resolution on Deforestation
The Consumer Goods Forum’s Resolution on Sustainable Refrigeration
The Consumer Goods Forum’s Resolution on Food Waste
Membership in the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)
Membership in the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI)
Signing of the Tuna 2020 Traceability Declaration
Membership in the Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS)
Signing of the Statement of Support for the Cerrado Manifesto
Company car guideline with incentive system for more fuel-efficient vehicles
Commitment to provide 1,000 charging stations for electric vehicles by 2030 within the scope of EV100 (joint commitment to electric vehicles), organised by The Climate Group
Voluntary commitment on disposable plastics
Packaging target for own brand products concerning plastic, FSC and PVC
Measures 2018/19
Measures for behavioural change (Energy Awareness Programme), investment in energy efficiency and renewable energies (Energy-Saving Programme), changeover of refrigeration systems to natural refrigerants (F-Gas Exit Programme)
Recertification and annual check of energy management systems in accordance with ISO 50001
Implementing the general buying policy for sustainable procurement and the specific buying guidelines for fish, palm oil, wood, paper and packaging
Range of ecologically and socially certified products
Voluntary commitment to reporting on projects and their aims, measures and KPIs concerning circular economy by 2018 in the context of the Retailers’ Environmental Action Programme (REAP), which is jointly sponsored by the European Commission and European retailers and associations
The objective of the working group ‘Waste Management’ superordinated at the group level with it member countries from FR|PK|RO|PL|UA|TR is to further optimise waste management in METRO Wholesale countries in the area of stores, and to increase efficiency in the interest of a closed circular economy as a means of saving costs; topics of focus are:
- Offering customers collection points
- Increasing food donations
- Promoting employee awareness and involvement
- Promoting exchange on best practices
In the framework of a comprehensive plastics initiative, METRO has committed itself to replacing conventional disposable plastics with reusable, recyclable or compostable alternatives by 2025 and promoting the transition to a closed circular plastics economy. In company canteens, multiway systems are to replace existing one-way solutions by 2019.
Formulation of the METRO Sustainable Value Creation Model, an accounting of sustainability for financial year 2016/17 for the monetary representation of the economic, ecological and social effects of the business activity of METRO Wholesale along the value chain
Deep dive in 2019 on the impact of the Valencia Trading Office on environment and society
Transparent public reporting on climate change, water and forest via the CDP climate change programme, the CDP water programme and the CDP forest programme
Involvement of 99 suppliers in the CDP supply chain programme Water with 57% response rate.
Transparent public reporting about climate change and water in the CDP Climate Programme and CDP Water Programme.
Achievements 2018/19
Greenhouse gas emissions per m2 of selling and delivery space reduced by 29% compared to 2011
Electricity consumption per m2 of selling and delivery space reduced by almost 18% compared to 2011
Greenhouse gas emissions from refrigerant losses per m2 of selling and delivery space reduced by 23% compared to 2011; Awarded with EHI Energy Management Award 2018 about ZERO one St. Pölten
Water consumption per m2 of selling and delivery space reduced by 6% compared to the previous year in the stores of METRO Wholesale
Energy management systems in accordance with ISO 50001 at all locations in Germany and nearly all locations in France. Complete Re-Certification for all German METRO companies incl METRO AG
BREEAM certification for METRO headquarter in Düsseldorf
Additional transcritical refrigeration systems started up, including in Bulgaria (1), Russia (6), France (9), Italy (3), Romania (2), Croatia (2), Spain (3), and Portugal, Poland, Germany (each 1), Company of the Year 2018, awarded from Shecco
Further photovoltaic systems installed, expanding total capacity to more than 25,000 kWp, with newest systems in Germany, Pakistan, Japan and France
Measures for heat recovery in a number of markets
Review and, where appropriate, reworking of the packaging of more than 18.000 own-brand products concerning environmental impact
With the implementation of a digital platform developed by our partner Whole Surplus, METRO Turkey now has a basis methodology for systematically measuring and managaing of food waste in its own business operations while reducing food waste.
METRO and Too Good To Go expanded their partnership from 2 to 6 countries and now also work with METRO in France, Spain, Italy and Belgium.
In Belgium, as in the Netherlands, the anti-food waste app will start offering products from METRO stores which are often simply nearing their best-before date. In Italy, France and Spain, METRO will specifically promote awareness and use of the app among its core customer group of hoteliers, restaurateurs and caterers.
Charging point infrastructure for electromobility expanded to more than 440 charging points at METRO Wholesale, thereof 80 in METRO Head Quarter for employees, company cars and visitors; implementation of 1st EV Trucks in delivery – e.g. Vienna 26 to Truck, NL two PHEV
Implementation of an industry-wide traceability system as a precautionary measure relating to illegal fishing in various countries, and expansion to include new partners, countries and product groups
Products certified in accordance with the EU regulation on organic farming accounted for more than €18 million in sales within the METRO Wholesale in Germany.
In Germany, METRO Wholesale generated sales of €29.5 million with products caught using sustainable fishing practices and aquaculture. These are products bearing the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and EU organic logos or are certified in accordance to GlobalG.A.P.. Sales of products bearing the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) label or the label of the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) amounted to approx. €9 million.
Project with 5 METRO countries FR, PT, DE, IN, CZ/SK to define the phasing out road map of single use plastic disposable assortment in Q1 and 2 2019.
Implementation in progress for all METRO countries
Since July 2019 METRO Ukraine has put into operations METRO Waste Collection Point in METRO Poznyaky Store. METRO customers have the opportunity to bring their waste (aluminum cans, PET bottles, paper, glass) to the METRO Poznyaky Store and leave it for recycling. This service allows our HoReCa and SSO clients together with METRO to join the movement of rational consumption of the planet's resources and reduce bad impact on it.
METRO is partner of food banks in 22 METRO countries as of today. This means, the stores donate the food they can no longer sell to the local food banks. In 2019 one additional METRO country started a partnership with food banks or donated their food directly to organisations who feed people in need.