Waste and Water Management
MetLife employees volunteer to clean up litter along the bay in Warwick, RI.
Conserving water and reducing waste is a key part of our environmental efforts and commitment to maintaining carbon neutrality.
Conserving natural resources, eliminating waste
MetLife carefully considers our use of natural resources, including materials and water. MetLife is continuously striving to divert waste from landfills through a combination of waste reduction, recycling, and reuse initiatives. We seek out innovative ways to reuse and recycle paper, plastic, cardboard, electronics equipment, toner cartridges, and other office supplies. In the U.S., we also prioritized the reduction of food waste. We have implemented back-of-house composting at several office locations and at a few pilot locations, and have partnered with local food banks and community organizations to donate unused food to families in need. Over the past two years, we donated over 2,500 pounds of food. We also incorporate sustainably sourced seafood, dairy, meats, and produce in our dining operations. In 2020, we recycled more than 2 million pounds of waste, representing more than 60 percent of the total waste produced from our U.S. managed facilities.
We also aim to eliminate waste at the source. One way we have accomplished this is by changing the company’s use of paper. MetLife’s “e-delivery” practices have greatly reduced the number of statements and reports we print, as customers can elect to receive this information electronically. By reducing our paper use, we can enhance customer convenience and help the environment, too.
Water conservation
Water conservation is also an important priority. MetLife invests in water-efficient technologies and implements water-reduction strategies to minimize water consumption at our offices. Due to these efforts, which include efficient fixture installation, green irrigation practices, and facility management improvement, MetLife’s total water consumption and water intensity metrics have decreased significantly over the past several years. As of year-end 2020, we had reduced water consumption by 46% since 2014 driven largely by COVID between 2019 and 2020.