Secure Planet

Carbon footprint

Greenhouse gas emissions in t CO₂ (CO₂ equivalents)

Definition: Level of all main emissions by Scope in line with the methodology of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.

The following sources of emissions are included:

• Scope 1 = fuel oil, natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), refrigerant losses from commercial cooling, refrigerant losses from air-conditioning, fuel consumption of company cars and the group’s own logistics fleet, emergency power generators
• Scope 2 = electricity consumption, district heating and cooling
• Scope 3 = external logistics for the transport of goods to our stores and warehouses, in-house paper consumption for advertising and office purposes, business trips, goods and services purchased for own use, capital assets, upstream chain emissions and grid losses for all direct and indirect energy sources, waste, employee commutes, leased assets

Explanation about the Carbon Footprint, especially about methodology, reporting boundaries and climate protection target are available at www.metroag.de/responsibility/business-operations.

Status of climate protection target

Greenhouse gas emissions in kg CO₂ (CO₂ equivalents) per m² selling and delivery space

Definition: Greenhouse gas emissions from METRO’s stores, back offices and warehouses (by selling space and space used for delivery operations) included within the climate protection target. Included are the emissions from electricity, heating and cooling energy consumption, also counting upstream chains and grid losses, refrigerant emissions from commercial cooling and air-conditioning, fuel consumption by company cars, in-house paper consumption for advertising material and office purposes as well as business trips.

Explanation: We aim to reduce our specific greenhouse gas emissions by 50% between 2011 and 2030. In concrete terms, this means that we want to cut our emissions per square metres of selling and delivery space from 374 to 187 kg of CO₂ equivalents per annum.

The significant decline in emissions compared with the reference year 2011 can essentially be attributed to 2 factors:

• Measures to reduce consumption relating to energy, company cars, paper and business travel, and to reduce emissions caused by refrigerant loss
• General technical and scientific developments as reflected by the adjustment of the emission factors used to calculate CO₂ equivalents. Above all in electricity generation, the emissions factor in many countries is declining due to the increased share of renewable energies.

Trends in the emission sources included in the climate protection target

Greenhouse gas emissions in kg CO₂ (CO₂ equivalents) per m² selling and delivery space

Definition: Trends in CO₂ emissions per square metre from all the emission sources included in the climate protection target compared to the reference year 2011.

Energy consumption

Total energy consumption (in MWh)

Definition: Energy consumption for operating the locations and for transportation broken down into the different types of energy used. Fuel includes fuel oil, combustion fuel, natural gas and liquefied natural gas.

Electricity, heating and cooling energy consumption (in kWh per m² of selling and delivery space)

Definition: Locations’ energy consumption in relation to the space used for sales and delivery operations. Energy consumption consists of electricity consumption and heating and cooling energy consumption (fuel oil, natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), emergency power generators and district heating/cooling).

Water

Water withdrawal and wastewater generated (in l per m² of selling and delivery space)

Definition: Water withdrawal by the locations in relation to the space used for sales and delivery operations.

Explanation: In absolute terms, METRO drew 5.9 million m³ of fresh water in the reporting period. At the warehouses, stores and back offices, water is primarily used for cleaning and sanitary facilities. In addition to this, water may be used for storing, transporting and selling food, for example for keeping live fish or making ice to chill fresh fish.

At the group level, we measure and monitor the amount of water which the company draws from the public drinking water supply. The public drinking water supply is the only source from which we draw significant amounts of water.

We also measure and monitor the total amount of wastewater we generate at the group level. As our locations do not consume a significant amount of water, our calculations are based on the assumption that the volume of wastewater is the same as the amount of fresh water. All wastewater is fed into public sewers. We do not monitor the quality of the wastewater ourselves as this is not relevant given the usage described above.

Waste

Amount of waste and recycling rate (in kg per m² of selling and delivery space and in %)

Definition: Waste generated in relation to the space used for sales and delivery operations. The recycling rate is calculated as the amount of waste destined for recycling, heat recovery and composting in relation to the amount of total waste.

Explanation: The volume of waste in absolute terms, 385,690 t, marks a reduction from the previous year. This can be broken down as follows:

• Waste for composting (16,091 t)
• Waste for heat recovery (55,398 t)
• Waste for landfill (38,542 t)
• Waste for recycling (194,221 t)
• Waste for special waste treatment, such as hazardous waste (14,013 t)
• Waste for unknown disposal (67,425 t)

When we calculate the recycling rate, we do not take hazardous waste into account because we cannot systematically record the way in which it is treated (recycled or disposed of) in all of the countries in which we operate. However, based on information from several countries, most of the hazardous waste is also recycled. In reality, the recycling rate is therefore higher.

Sales of more sustainable products

Sales of products certified as organic in line with EU regulations

Number of sustainably fished or farmed products (MSC, ASC, GlobalG.A.P., EU organic logo)

Sales of sustainably fished or farmed products (MSC, ASC, GlobalG.A.P., EU organic logo)

Sales of products from sustainable forestry (FSC^® or PEFC label)