METRO publishes new Packaging & Plastic Report
06 May 2025The clear focus on professional customers and their needs is a central part of METRO's sCore growth strategy. Own brands are particularly important in this regard, as they not only represent a strong price-performance promise, but also reliable quality, high value and availability.
Packaging plays a particularly important role here, as it enables us to guarantee the high quality and hygiene standards expected by our professional customers while reducing and minimising the environmental impact of our own brand packages throughout the entire life cycle of the products.
As an international food wholesaler, METRO supports the European Union's new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which was adopted at the end of 2024 and aims to consistently reduce packaging waste and promote reusability and recyclability for a more resource-efficient economy.
In line with this, METRO has revised its own packaging commitments and refined its targets. Based on the reference year 2021/22, the following commitments apply to own brand packaging until 2030:
- Reduction of plastic usage by 10,000 tonnes of packaging material
- Increase in the proportion of recycled plastic to 30%
- Phase out of substances of concern such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and expanded polystyrene (EPS)
- 100% recyclability of packaging through the use of recyclable, reusable or home compostable materials
- Use of materials that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) / Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC) or have a recycling content of at least 70% for all paper, cardboard and wood
A total of 21 METRO countries, including the internationally operating trading offices, have agreed on these common commitments and regularly exchange information on the progress made. This involves developing solutions to improve resource efficiency, e.g. by reducing packaging material, increasing the proportion of recycled material, and working to improve the efficiency of packaging on pallets while reducing costs for our customers.