Sustainability at MetLife FAQs

Our purpose drives our strategy and reflects the fundamental promise we make to our customers, people, shareholders and communities. Aligned to our New Frontier strategy, sustainability at MetLife means managing business responsibly and driving long-term value for our stakeholders.

We demonstrate our sustainability strategy through the care MetLife has for its people, security we provide to customers, the claims we pay during times of need, our support for the communities we serve, and long-term investments in the broader economy that help finance job creation, business growth and community development around the world.

For customers, we offer products and services that support health and financial wellbeing, we innovate to create solutions that meet their unique needs, and we make investments that help us keep our financial promises. For our people, we provide a purpose-driven and inclusive culture, prioritize talent and skills development, and offer opportunities for professional growth. For our communities, we help create economic opportunities and volunteer our time to support areas of critical need. And for all of our stakeholders, we protect the environment as a way to improve overall health and well-being. By deploying the strength of our people, products, services and investments to deliver on our promises, we continue to deliver value to our shareholders.

Sustainability is how we live up to our purpose and generate meaningful impact under our New Frontier strategy.

Operationally, MetLife’s Sustainability function is dedicated to sustainability strategy, management and reporting. The Chief Sustainability Officer leads the function, in coordination with other senior executives. MetLife’s Regional President of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Head of Global Sustainability, who reports directly to the CEO, oversees the function. Additionally, MetLife’s leaders include sustainability in annual performance objectives as part of a shared goal for MetLife’s Executive Leadership Team. Throughout the Company, other roles have responsibility for sustainability as part of their region, line of business or strategic focus area.

Within the Finance function, MetLife has an ESG Financial Reporting Controller focused on promoting compliance, controls and transparency in regulatory and sustainability-related reporting. The ESG Financial Reporting Controller supports regulated and voluntary reporting containing ESG information. MetLife also has a Sustainability Reporting Steering Committee that oversees ESG regulatory and reporting disclosures, and is responsible for the consistency and appropriate control oversight of such disclosures.

We communicate progress on our sustainability efforts and performance year-round using multiple channels including our annual Sustainability Report and United Nations Global Compact Communication on Progress, social media, news releases posted on MetLife.com and active engagement in events, research and thought leadership. We also disclose sustainability progress and performance via ISS, EcoVadis, DJSI, MSCI and Sustainalytics.

As a financial services provider, MetLife recognizes that environmental challenges can affect the well-being and financial future of our colleagues, our customers, our communities and our shareholders. Protecting human health, preserving natural resources, and addressing climate issues help us drive sustainable growth, mitigate risk, and create long-term value for our stakeholders.

We consider how MetLife could be impacted by climate risks across the business, both assets and liabilities, by evaluating how risks could manifest across risk types, including: credit, market, insurance, operational, legal and compliance risks. We have conducted qualitative climate risk identification exercises to determine potential climate risks for key parts of the organization. In addition, we have reviewed our organizational structure to identify roles and responsibilities in relation to climate risk management across the three lines of defense.

For years, MetLife has applied a range of strategies to reduce emissions generated by its environmental footprint. MetLife is making progress toward reaching Net Zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for its global operations and General Account (GA) investment portfolio by 2050 or sooner, as part of delivering long-term value for stakeholders. Learn more about our approach to Net Zero. Additional information about MetLife’s General Account investment portfolio is available here. We manage and monitor climate and other environmental risks, impacts and opportunities while supporting solutions that advance the transition to a low-carbon economy.

MetLife is working to increase efficiencies, reduce risks and deliver sustainable growth across our global operations. This includes improving the performance of our 9.2 million square feet of offices and reducing business travel emissions—including through initiatives that lower operating costs, promote collaboration and enhance workforce vitality. We have decreased location-based emissions by 44% since 2019 and have maintained carbon neutrality for our offices, fleets and business travel since 2016.

As a responsible investor, MetLife maintains a long-term, value-driven perspective through MetLife’s GA investment portfolio.¹ MetLife’s responsible investments seek to achieve a market financial return while considering social and/or environmental benefits that help create healthier communities and a more sustainable environment. These investments focus on the core areas of infrastructure, green, municipal bonds, affordable housing and impact investments.²

See our Sustainability Scorecard for detail on our history of responsible investing.

MetLife defines impact investments as those investments made with the intention to generate positive, measurable, social and environmental impact alongside a financial return (Global Impact Investing Network definition). This activity includes both MetLife’s General Account and a smaller volume of MetLife Foundation assets. Impact investments are a part of MetLife's broader responsible investments categorization.

Learn more about MetLife Foundation's impact investments.

MetLife’s General Account (GA) investment portfolio helps finance job creation, business growth and community development around the world.¹ As a global financial services company, one of our key priorities is that our investments help us keep the financial promises we make to our customers. MetLife’s GA investment portfolio is invested for the long term. We seek investments that provide diversification and offer stable, secure and competitive, risk-adjusted returns. We evaluate risks, including financially material ESG factors, that we believe have an impact on investment performance. Our sizable and diversified investment portfolio is integral to helping MetLife live our purpose.

MIM, our institutional investment management business, manages most of MetLife’s GA portfolio, as well as third-party institutional client portfolios. MIM is a global investment manager with specialist investment teams that support MetLife’s GA investment portfolio’s objectives. This includes considering financially material risks and opportunities in decision-making and being a responsible investor as a means to managing a long-term, value-driven portfolio.

MIM maintains policies and brochures that guide and communicate its sustainable investment approach, including MIM’s Sustainable Investment Policy and MIM Stewardship Policy.

Please visit our Sustainability Resource Center for sustainability-related statements, policies, definitions and more.

Please see a list of MetLife's recent awards and recognition.