The METRO ESG strategy comprises aspects related to environmental, social and corporate governance topics which have a significant influence on our operations and which we can make a major impact on through our business activities.
Our ESG strategy sets out 3 sustainability priorities. Climate and carbon; ethics and trust; as well as diversity, equity and inclusion:
- Climate and carbon: we reduce emissions and waste in our business operations and contribute to reducing CO2 in the food sector, for example by using renewable energy and implementing measures to reduce food waste.
- Ethics and trust: we hold safe and fair working conditions in our own business operations in high regard and promote supply chains in which business is conducted in an ethically appropriate and transparent manner with respect to human rights and environmental impact.
- Diversity, equity and inclusion: in line with the inclusive ‘ONE METRO’ culture and based on the understanding that our employees are essential to our business, the focus is on promoting the health and well-being of employees.
METRO’s core objective is to drive the transformation towards responsible and sustainable business practices – within our own business operations, but also in our collaboration with our suppliers and customers.
We regularly carry out a review of the completeness of the material non-financial matters to be reported, the so-called materiality analysis. In doing so, we determine whether we cover the sustainability topics which are relevant to us. In addition, we ensure that we account for potentially changing business interests and impacts on the environment or society and that we illustrate these matters in our NFS.
In financial year 2023/24, the material topics arising in financial year 2022/23 were reviewed and revalidated. The members of the ESG Peer Group, METRO’s central ESG steering committee, assessed whether the material topics identified in financial year 2022/23 were still relevant in the reporting period, particularly in the light of our business model and the environment in which METRO operates. Moreover, an assessment was conducted to determine whether any new material topics should be added to the catalogue. After analysis and discussion, the members of the ESG Peer Group, who address the most important core functions at METRO, unanimously determined that the topics that had been identified in financial year 2022/23 were also relevant in the reporting period and cover the non-financial aspects ‘Environmental matters’, ‘Employee matters’, ‘Social matters’, ‘Observance of human rights’ and ‘Anti-corruption and anti-bribery’. The topics identified or revalidated as part of the process described and the matters of the materiality analysis are the subject of this combined non-financial statement and meet the requirements of § 315c Section 2 of the HGB and § 289c Section 3 of the HGB.