METRO aims to be climate-neutral in its own global operations by 2040 – a pledge the company committed to in July 2021. Many of the measures designed to achieve this target are being implemented in the wholesale stores. Photovoltaic systems, for example, have proven valuable, as have cooling systems using natural refrigerants as well as simple yet effective measures like automatic doors separating specially cooled areas.
Sustainability at METRO
We target our actions on 8 focus areas that affect us and our customers the most and where we create the greatest leverage.
Read more about our sustainability strategy and the 8 strategic focus areas in our Corporate Responsibility Report 2019/20.

Here comes the sun!
The roof of a METRO wholesale store is perfect for operating a photovoltaic system. That is why 56 stores in 11 METRO countries feature them. These systems generate a total of 20,248 kWp, which is the equivalent of the energy consumption of 5,500 4-person households.
Let there be LED light!
By switching to energy-saving LEDs, METRO has now reduced its total electricity consumption worldwide by 15%. That saves over 200,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, or about 2 billion kilometres’ worth of car emissions – and rising.
Out of gas!
190 METRO wholesale stores in 18 METRO countries use cooling systems with natural refrigerants instead of the halogenated hydrofluorocarbons known as HCFCs and HFCs that are so devastating to the environment, destroy the ozone layer and promote global warming. 1 kg of HFCs has the same effect on our climate as 3,922 kg of CO2. An extra benefit of the new, eco-friendly cooling systems: not only do they cut down on maintenance – and on electricity by over 20% – but their steady temperatures also have a positive effect on food quality.
Little drops make a mighty ocean!
Whether it’s contact-free taps, the use of rainwater or wash bays for transport boxes that harness the waste heat from the cooling system to heat the water – even tiny changes can make a big difference. Every METRO country does what it can to be more careful and sparing in its use of the resource of drinking water. In financial year 2019/20, these efforts saved 175,000,000 litres of water – or about 875,000 full bathtubs’ worth.