With our purpose at our core - Always with you, building a more confident future - sustainability at MetLife means sustaining people’s lives.

Sustainability is central to our business strategy and is embedded across our business. With the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) as a guide, we leverage the full strength of our people, products, services and investments to sustain our customers, our colleagues and our communities.

We demonstrate our commitment through the security we provide to customers by paying claims during times of need, our activities and investments in the communities we serve, and the long-term investments we make in the broader economy globally.

Sustaining people’s lives is what we do—and it has been this way since MetLife opened for business in 1868.

Partnerships

At MetLife we work in partnership with others who help us fulfil our commitment to Sustainability and support our communities.

Australian Wildlife Conservancy
Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) is a global leader in conservation with a mission to conserve Australian native animal species and the habitats in which they live. Commenced in 2023, the partnership includes financial support for the organisation’s reintroduction program with the aim of restoring threatened species that have disappeared from Australian landscapes, as well as providing education on biodiversity and climate change for MetLife employees.

Botanic Gardens of Sydney
Since 2021, we have been a principal partner of the Botanic Gardens of Sydney, who are Australia’s oldest scientific institution and Australia’s premier botanical research institute encompassing the education, science, conservation and collections of the Botanic Gardens. Our people volunteer with the Gardens on Community Greening projects and tree planting, along with supporting research into biodiversity and climate action.

Banking and Financial Services Oath

We encourage our people to take responsibility for their actions and be part of building a positive culture. We make it easy for people to speak up and openly discuss the importance of operating ethically.

We make ethics an ongoing conversation with our people, by partnering with The Banking and Financial Services Oath, whose purpose is to raise the moral and ethical standards of the banking and financial services industry. We regularly invite them to speak at employee events and actively encourage our staff to take the Oath themselves. We also support their Young Ambassador program which provides student, graduates and young professionals with ethics education and workshops, increasing their ethical literacy and strengthening their capacity to make ethical choices, as they establish their careers in the industry.

Reconciliation

Our Reconciliation Action Plan is a framework for how we support national reconciliation with First Nations peoples. We are focused on building understanding amongst our employees and others in our sphere of influence, such as our business partners. We also support the First Nations Foundation Resilient and Ready - Financial Wellbeing Program which addresses the economic disadvantage experienced by First Nations women.

Mental health

MetLife’s Mental Health policy and action plan is designed to protect, support and promote the mental health and wellbeing of our employees. We are committed to increasing knowledge and awareness of mental health issues and behaviours; reducing stigma around depression, anxiety and suicide; and encouraging employees’ active participation in a range of initiatives that support mental health and wellbeing.

We have engage with SuperFriend, who work with organisations to achieve mentally healthy workplaces for their staff and customers. They provide our people with training to support their own mental health and the mental health of our customers. We have a unique crisis call tool, co-designed with SuperFriend, which helps our people guide customers in crisis to the right support.

Our claims philosophy guides how we assess and pay claims, and ensures that we treat people fairly, especially during difficult times. Our highly trained employees focus on customer care and empathy, to support customers.

We also offer our customers access to Mental Health Assist through our award-winning 360Health Virtual Care.

Environment and investing

MetLife is committed to Net Zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for its global operations and General Account investment portfolio by 2050 or sooner.* This ambition is part of our overall business strategy to create long-term value for colleagues, customers, shareholders and the communities where we operate. For MetLife, this means working toward an inclusive, resilient and thriving environment for present and future generations.

As a purpose-driven company, we continue to adapt to meet the needs of a rapidly changing world. MetLife’s Net Zero commitment builds on our longstanding history of environmental stewardship. This includes addressing climate change and supporting a just transition to a low-carbon economy, which requires collective action from diverse stakeholders. Our commitment is supported by a comprehensive approach, interim targets and key initiatives intended to help improve the environment. Learning more about our Net Zero approach here.

In 2016 MetLife was the first life insurer to achieve carbon neutrality globally. Our Sydney headquarters are at Brookfield Place, a 5-star NABERS energy and 6 stars on the Green Star rated building. We focus on reducing our consumption and waste with response practices and education for our people. We have also signed the Single Use Plastic Pledge and no longer purchase single use plastic items.

For investing, we apply environmental, social and governance criteria, which informs where we choose to invest. Most recently, we have made a commitment to no new investments in mining and utility companies deriving 25% or more of their revenue from thermal coal, as well as companies that hold at least 20% of their oil reserves in oil sands. We also use our investments to make a positive impact on social through responsible investments, such as green buildings and renewable energy projects, and affordable housing.

MetLife Foundation

MetLife Foundation works with not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises to build stronger communities across the world. Here in Australia, we work with Habitat for Humanity to support financial empowerment through secure shelter. Our annual Fit 4 Humanity campaign encourages MetLife employees to get active to support the charity. Since 2020, MetLife Foundation has donated more than $200,000.

Volunteering

MetLife employees live our purpose by lending their time, skills and enthusiasm to their communities through volunteering. Giving back to our communities is fundamental to our culture at MetLife.

Employees are given one volunteer leave day each year and can use this leave for MetLife organised volunteering or arrange their own volunteering opportunities. Each year, MetLife employees contribute to more than 100,000 volunteer hours globally.

Diversity, equity and inclusion

We believe Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is vital to creating a workplace where people can thrive. We are members of Diversity Council Australia (DCA) and Pride in Diversity, leading diversity organisations who help us refine our DEI efforts. We are the only life insurance company to be named an Inclusive Employer by DCA.

Our DEI Committee, led by MetLife employees, develops our strategy for ensuring we are an inclusive organisation and supports a range of events, including International Women’s Day, Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Wear it Purple Day and cultural observances.

MetLife’s 2030 DEI commitments addresses the needs of the underserved and underrepresented through a mix of investments, products and services, supply chain, volunteering and community efforts. You can learn more about these global commitments here.

To learn more about MetLife’s global ongoing sustainability efforts, visit our Sustainability website.