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METRO gROUP : ANNUAL REPORT 2011 : BUsiNEss
→ Corporate governanCe report
In further developing its risk management, MeTRo GRoUp
in 2011 focused on strengthening the link between risk
management and Group reporting as well as its integration
into business processes. This includes process improvements
through the consolidation of divisional risk and
opportunity management as well as an extension of organisational
structures.
sustainability and responsibility
a company can only generate sustained positive earnings
developments if it acts responsibly towards society and the
environment. That is why MeTRo GRoUp has declared sustainability
to be an integral component of the Company’s
strategy. This means that the Company also considers social
and environmental needs in all business decisions and processes.
The aim of MeTRo GRoUp’s sustainability management
is to ensure the Company’s future viability. at the same
time, by acting responsibly, the Company responds to the
increased expectations of various stakeholders.
Integrated management systems and an organisational
structure with clearly defined responsibilities are preconditions
for a sustainability approach that promotes growth and
value creation. For this reason, MeTRo GRoUp created a
sustainability Board in 2009. This body develops Group-wide
standards for sustainable business practices and helps to
incorporate these into Company practices.
additional information on the subject of sustainability and
responsibility is available on the website www.metrogroup.de
in the section sustainability & CsR. The Company’s sustainability
Report is also available for download there.
Our employees
added value for the customer is of vital importance for
retail and wholesale companies. That is why MeTRo GRoUp
needs dedicated and qualified employees who are familiar
with customers’ expectations and buying habits and can
respond to these accordingly. In a reflection of this, our
commitment to our own employees is a central focus of the
sustainability management of MeTRo GRoUp. as a result of
demographic change, the working-age population in many
countries will continue to decline. Consequently, it is of
great importance to MeTRo GRoUp to ensure the long-term
supply of employees, particularly qualified workers and
executives, through forward-looking and innovative personnel
concepts. This includes, amongst other things, pursuing
active diversity management.
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MeTRo GRoUp advocates fair and equitable working conditions
around the world. Within its own stores and companies,
it is, amongst others, unreservedly committed to the four
core labour standards of the International labour organisation
(Ilo).
extensive information on the subject of employees is available
on the website www.metrogroup.de in the section Career.
Information on the topics of working conditions, training, further
training and employee retention as well as on the core
labour standards of the Ilo can be called up in the section
sustainability & CsR – employees.
High supply chain standards
MeTRo GRoUp’s own-brand suppliers also have to meet high
standards – from the manufacturing site to the store shelf.
These include demanding quality specifications as well as
considerations of human rights, animal welfare and environmental
aspects. prohibitions of forced labour, child labour or
any other form of exploitation are an integral part of
MeTRo GRoUp’s written agreements with its suppliers.
With respect to imports of certain products from outside the
european Union, MeTRo GRoUp has pledged to screen and
monitor its suppliers and to help them to introduce better
working conditions. MeTRo GRoUp is a founding member of
the Business social Compliance Initiative, or BsCI, whose
objective is to ensure basic human rights in production and
along the supply chain. In order to guarantee minimum
social standards in the product manufacturing stage,
MeTRo GRoUp makes compliance with the BsCI Code of
Conduct mandatory for its own-brand suppliers.
The BsCI Code of Conduct and background information on
the BsCI management system are available on the website
www.metrogroup.de in the section sustainability & CsR –
supply Chain or at www.bsci-intl.org.
Efficient energy management and resource protection
The production, sale and use of food and other consumer
goods are associated with various environmental effects.
MeTRo GRoUp is part of this supply chain. It has the greatest
influence on such environmental processes as the consumption
of energy and resources as well as the production of
harmful emissions at its own stores and operations. In order
to reduce the Company’s climate impact and running costs,
MeTRo GRoUp’s environmental management primarily
focuses on the cost-effective and efficient use of resources.