Our framework
We are guided by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These form the global framework for our corporate strategy, which is shaped by the sustainability principle.
Click the wheel and see how METRO
contributes to fulfilling the 17 UN SDGs.
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
Through our business activities, especially at our locations, and our approach to innovation management, we are involved in developing a resilient infrastructure, encouraging inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and supporting innovation.
Projects contributing to fulfilling the SDG
Planet – Business operations
Electromobility KitroPlanet – Supply chain
#METROPlasticFighterDescription of this SDG
un.orgReduced Inequalities
Reduce inequality within and among countries
Through our inclusion approach we help reduce all forms of inequality, including those within and between nations.
Projects contributing to fulfilling the SDG
People – Employees
Women in Trade METRO Pride LeadLinked guidelines and policies
Free & Equal Standard Business principles
Description of this SDG
un.orgSustainable Cities and Communities
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Through our social commitment, our electromobility concept and our promotion of sustainable, innovative solutions, we help make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
Projects contributing to fulfilling the SDG
Planet – Business operations
Building certifications Proper waste disposalPartnership
Care & Share We help UN WFP Food banksLinked KPI’s
Partnership
Community investmentDescription of this SDG
un.orgLife Below Water
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
Through our comprehensive involvement in sustainable fishing we contribute to conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
Projects contributing to fulfilling the SDG
Planet – Supply chain
GSSI/MSC/WEF/NASFProsperity
TraceabilityLinked guidelines and policies
Biodiversity Packaging Initiative Fish
Linked KPI’s
Planet
Number of sustainabily fished or farmed productsDescription of this SDG
un.orgLife on Land
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
Through more sustainable procurement we help protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
Projects contributing to fulfilling the SDG
Planet – Business operations
Paper consumptionPlanet – Supply chain
Palm oilPartnership
EcosiaLinked guidelines and policies
Biodiversity Paper and wood Palm oil
Linked KPI’s
Planet
Products from sustainable forestryDescription of this SDG
un.orgPeace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
Through our principles, commitments and positions on various issues, which provide guidance, we help promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
Projects contributing to fulfilling the SDG
Partnership
We HelpLinked guidelines and policies
Business-principles Code-of-Conduct Anti-Corruption Guideline
Description of this SDG
un.orgNo Poverty
End poverty in all its forms everywhere
Through our principles on fair working conditions and social partnership for employees and our Code of Conduct for business partners we make sure that wages and salaries meet statutory minimum pay regulations and industry standards. In this way, we are helping to end poverty in all its forms everywhere.
Projects contributing to fulfilling the SDG
People – Supply chain
Deal-breaker process Supplier trainingPeople – Employees
Human rights policy Human rights due diligencePartnership
We helpLinked guidelines and policies
Human rights Code-of-Conduct Social standards Fair working conditions and social partnership
Linked KPI’s
People
Producers with valid auditPartnership
Community investmentDescription of this SDG
un.orgGood Health and Well-being
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
Through our activities to deliver a healthy, nutritional product range, we are supporting the goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages.
Projects contributing to fulfilling the SDG
People – Employees
Occupational health and safetyProsperity
Healthy product range Customer survey on “health and well-being”Linked guidelines and policies
Health and nutrition
Description of this SDG
un.orgQuality Education
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
Through our training offers at our locations we are helping to provide inclusive, equal, quality education and to promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Projects contributing to fulfilling the SDG
People – Supply chain
Supplier trainingProsperity
To build a future in the countriesLinked KPI’s
People
Continuing professional developmentDescription of this SDG
un.orgGender Equality
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Through our diversity approach we support the goal of achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.
People – Employees
Women in Trade Women Leadership ProgramLinked guidelines and policies
Free & Equal Standard Business principles
Linked KPI’s
People
New employees by gender Gender breakdown in managerial positions Employee turnover by genderDescription of this SDG
un.orgClean Water and Sanitation
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
Our activities within the METRO Water Initiative contribute to the goal of ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
Projects contributing to fulfilling the SDG
Partnership
METRO Water Initiative One DropLinked guidelines and policies
Environmental guideline
Linked KPI’s
Planet
Water consumptionDescription of this SDG
un.orgAffordable and Clean Energy
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
By providing renewable energy for our customers and through other activities in the field of renewables, we help ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
Projects contributing to fulfilling the SDG
Planet – Business operations
Energy-Saving Programme ElectromobilityLinked guidelines and policies
Environmental guideline
Linked KPI’s
Planet
Climate protection target Energy consumptionDescription of this SDG
un.orgDecent Work and Economic Growth
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
By campaigning for fair, safe working conditions in our own business and in our procurement structures, we help promote long-term, inclusive, sustainable economic growth, productive full employment and decent work for all.
Projects contributing to fulfilling the SDG
People – Supply chain
Deal-breaker process Supplier trainingPeople – Employees
Fair working conditions AssessmentLinked guidelines and policies
Human rights Social standards Fair working conditions and social partnership Global unions Code-of-Conduct
Linked KPI’s
People
Lost-Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR)Partnership
Community investmentDescription of this SDG
un.orgResponsible Consumption and Production
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Through our approaches to sustainable procurement and product range composition, resource and waste management and food waste avoidance we support sustainable consumption and production patterns.
Projects contributing to fulfilling the SDG
Planet – Business operations
Food wastePlanet – Supply chain
Fish sourcing GSSI/MSC/NASF/WEF Palm oilProsperity
Traceability Local sourcing Supplier developmentLinked guidelines and policies
CGF Resolution Packaging Sustainable Sourcing Palm oil
Linked KPI’s
Planet
Sales of sustainable products Amount of waste and recycling rateDescription of this SDG
un.orgClimate Action
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts*
Through our programmes for achieving our climate protection target (Energy Awareness Programme, Energy Saving Programme and F-Gas Exit Programme) we help take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
Projects contributing to fulfilling the SDG
Planet – Business operations
Energy-Saving Programme Phasing out F-gas Food WasteLinked guidelines and policies
Packaging CGF Resolution Palm oil
Linked KPI’s
Planet
Carbon footprint Status of climate protection targetDescription of this SDG
un.orgPartnerships for the Goals
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
Through our partnerships along the value chain and our commitment to economic, social and environmental interests, we can help strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development.
Projects contributing to fulfilling the SDG
Partnership
One Drop Ecosia Whole Surplus Consumer Goods Forum REAP UN WFPLinked KPI’s
Partnership
Community investmentDescription of this SDG
un.orgZero Hunger
End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
Through our supplier development measures regarding compliance with food standards and through our commitment to avoid food waste, we are helping to end hunger, achieve food security and better nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
Projects contributing to fulfilling the SDG
Planet – Business operations
Food waste Whole SurplusPartnership
UN WFP Food banksLinked guidelines and policies
CGF Resolution Sustainable Sourcing
Description of this SDG
un.orgSecure Planet
We care about the future of our planet
In our own operations, we use resources such as fossil fuels responsibly and do not allow waste to arise. This gives us leeway for investments to come up with attractive solutions for our customers and for new business areas. This is how we minimise our effect on the climate and protect the environment. In addition, through sustainable procurement and product range composition we help ensure that resources will continue to be available in the long term. This is how we help create a sound foundation for the retail of tomorrow.
More about Secure Planet
Area of responsibility Key Performance IndicatorsEmpower People
We empower people to live a better life
People are at the heart of what we do. Along the entire value chain, our actions are aimed at establishing sustainable relationships with our employees, suppliers and customers. By ensuring fair living and working conditions, we embrace responsibility in the supply chain. We respect, protect and support our employees. We enable them to integrate sustainability systematically into their everyday work and decisions. This is how we create a sustainable, attractive working environment that enables our employees to develop good working relationships with suppliers and offer our customers optimum, sustainable solutions that meet their needs.
More about Empower People
Area of responsibility Key Performance IndicatorsEnhance Partnership
We leverage the power of communities and partnership
We encourage others to act sustainably by assuming responsibility ourselves and by inspiring customers and partners with our new ways of thinking. This makes us an attractive employer for (future) employees and a trustworthy partner for our customers and business partners and representatives from the fields of politics, science and associations. We engage with our internal and external stakeholders to align our corporate actions with the needs of society. We support local communities at our locations and via our business relationships. We work on solutions to global challenges and contribute to sustainable development by engaging with economic, social and ecological issues.
More about Enhance Partnership
Area of responsibility Key Performance IndicatorsUnfold Prosperity
We build a sustainable and prosperous future
We shape our procurement and product range responsibly and create a high level of transparency along the entire value chain, with the aim of generating added value for our customers. In this way, we are able to supply our customers around the world with affordable, healthy, safe, high-quality products and suitable services. And with products that are produced in a socially responsible, environmentally sound and resource-friendly manner. In this way, we are also strengthening local producer structures and regional development. Additionally, we pass our expertise in the fields of resource management, procurement and product range composition on to our partners, independent entrepreneurs, in order to generate long-term business perspectives and a competitive edge for them and for us. This is how we secure our future and promote sustainable procurement processes and responsible consumption.
More about Unfold Prosperity
Area of responsibility Key Performance IndicatorsMETRO Purpose
It is our purpose to do more for business passionate people – in a responsible way
We have honed our sustainability approach based on the SDGs. Our areas of responsibility – (Empower) People, (Secure) Planet, (Unfold) Prosperity and (Enhance) Partnership – support the SDGs, particularly Goal 2 (Zero Hunger), Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), Goal 13 (Climate Action) and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) and play a part in achieving them. Our wide range of activities and the interrelationships between individual projects and between the individual SDGs mean that our sustainability activities contribute to the 17 goals of the global agenda. In addition, as a member of the UN Global Compact Initiative, we integrate the 10 UNGC principles into our work, strategy and corporate culture.
By taking these frameworks into account, we emphasise our conduct as a responsible company with global and local operations. We see ourselves as a value-generating part of society and play our part in achieving sustainable development on an economic, social and environmental level.
In the following video we show how our employees contribute to the SDGs: