Driving Supply Chain Sustainability

We seek to do business with suppliers that align with our values and work to mitigate climate risks, reduce their carbon footprints and support our efforts to do the same. MetLife’s Supply Chain Sustainability program engages suppliers on climate action, as well as principles of corporate responsibility and ethical sourcing, throughout the procurement process. Among other things, we request sustainability information during the supplier onboarding process, encourage continuous improvement and incentivize suppliers to reduce GHG emissions and negative environmental impacts in their operations.

For nearly a decade, MetLife has worked with suppliers to set climate-related goals. As we build on this engagement as part of our Net Zero Commitment, we aim to expand our understanding of where our suppliers stand on climate and have at least two-thirds of our suppliers (by spend) set their own emissions-reduction goals aligned with climate science.¹ We look for opportunities for innovation and collaboration with our suppliers on shared environmental goals and encourage our top suppliers to disclose their climate risks, environmental targets, GHG emissions and emissions-reduction activities through the annual CDP Climate Change Questionnaire.

Our vendor managers across the globe are important ambassadors of the MetLife Supply Chain Sustainability program, encouraging suppliers to set targets to reduce emissions and learn about environmental sustainability. Through an internal Global Procurement sustainability resource hub that contains webinars, guides and CDP Supplier Scorecards, we seek to educate our vendor managers and equip them with information they can use in conversations with our suppliers.

MetLife also prioritizes products that allow us to consume less, operate more efficiently and generate co-benefits such as cost savings, when possible. We purchase ENERGY STAR-certified equipment such as servers, monitors, laptops and desktops, sustainably sourced paper certified with the Forest Stewardship Council and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, and green building materials aligned with requirements of LEED and Fitwel, among other sustainable products and services. In the U.S., 100% of MetLife’s managed properties use cleaning supplies certified by Green Seal, a nonprofit that was a pioneer in the eco‑labeling movement.

To learn more about MetLife’s broader supplier management practices and efforts to foster supplier diversity, see Supplier Management.