Better Health for All

Rheinmetall's primary business in the defense sector, which includes weapon systems and ammunition, inherently causes significant negative health impacts and represents the company's largest revenue segment. The positive health-related contributions, such as contracts in 2023 to remodel and refurbish modular medical facility containers for the Bundeswehr (including food safety laboratories)

and a partnership for a rapidly deployable expeditionary healthcare program, are relatively small in scale. During the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, Rheinmetall supplied approximately one million FFP2 masks and other personal protective equipment to German federal authorities, with contracts valued around €16 million. The company's defense operations also generate significant health-harming externalities, such as unexploded ordnance. Rheinmetall addresses some of these by collaborating on an offshore platform for the safe disposal of unexploded ordnance in German waters, mitigating long-term environmental and health risks.

Fair Money & Economic Opportunity

Rheinmetall AG is an automotive and defense technology group, not a financial services provider to consumers.

The company does not offer lending, deposit, or other financial products and services to consumers. Therefore, all KPIs under the 'Fair Money & Economic Opportunity' value are not applicable to Rheinmetall's core business, as they are designed for financial institutions. The available articles do not provide any evidence related to consumer financial products, pricing, fees, financial literacy, or debt burden.

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

In 2024, 64.5% of employees were covered by collective bargaining agreements.

The company's Lost Time Incident Rate (LTIR) was 6.8 in 2024, an increase from 5.8 in 2023. A blast at a facility in Spain in January 2025 hospitalized 6 workers, marking the second major explosion in two years. Voluntary employee turnover due to resignation was 5.1% in 2024.

Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing

Rheinmetall's Supplier Code of Conduct, updated to Version 2.0 in October 2022, is an integral part of all supplier orders and business relationships

. Violations of this Code are considered to compromise the business relationship . Rheinmetall may regularly audit suppliers for compliance with the Code, with audits occurring at least once a year . For complaints issued by PIERBURG, a part of Rheinmetall, suppliers are required to submit initial feedback with a preliminary 8D report within 24 hours , and these 8D reports must be completely processed and completed within 14 calendar days .

Honest & Fair Business

Rheinmetall maintains a comprehensive anti-corruption policy that prohibits all forms of corruption, including a general prohibition on facilitation payments (with a safety exception).

The company conducts extensive due diligence for acquisitions and joint ventures, has an explicit anti-corruption training module, and a Chief Compliance Officer who reports directly to the CEO and presents compliance reports to the Audit Committee. The company also has robust anti-money laundering measures and a Supplier Code of Conduct.

Kind to Animals

Rheinmetall demonstrates significant engagement in wildlife conservation and habitat restoration. On its 5,500-hectare Fojana site, the company manages 3,300 hectares of forest and 900 hectares of heathland

, supporting 1,120 species of butterflies, including 33 threatened and 55 highly endangered species . This habitat has seen the return of wolves , and hosts ospreys and three breeding pairs of cranes annually since 1985 . Rheinmetall also developed the AVES Wind system, which successfully protected 237 red kite flight sequences from wind turbine collisions during trials from July to September 2023 . Additionally, the AIMMMS system was developed to detect whales within more than 2 nautical miles to mitigate the impact of offshore operations . In its agricultural operations, Rheinmetall manages 420 hectares where Black Angus and Galloway cattle graze nearly year-round , indicating high welfare practices. The company also engages in public policy by collaborating with Schleswig-Holstein officials in testing the "Test framework for anti-collision systems" (MEKUN 2024) , which is being evaluated by other German Federal States , contributing to the development of higher standards for wildlife protection.

No War, No Weapons

In 2024, Rheinmetall's defense business accounted for 80% of its Group sales

, which increased by 50% in the defense sector . The company is actively expanding its military manufacturing capacity, including considering taking over idle plants for tank production , while also divesting its remaining civil businesses . Rheinmetall's subsidiary RDM continued exports to Saudi Arabia between 2018 and 2021 despite a German prohibition on weapons sales . Mortars with characteristics of Rheinmetall's 120-mm ammunition were used in a 2018 attack in Hodeidah, Yemen . The company did not respond to allegations regarding weapons deals with Israel and a UN experts' call to cease arms transfers . For peacebuilding, Rheinmetall donated €100,000 to rebuild a hospital in Ukraine and €20,000 for school supplies in Chernivtsi . These donations represent approximately 0.00123% of its 2024 consolidated sales of €9.75 billion .

Planet-Friendly Business

Rheinmetall AG reported total Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions of 6,122,121 tCO₂e in 2024, with full Scope 1, 2, and 3 data published.

The company intends to enter the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) and will set targets in line with its methodology. In 2024, 21.7% of its total energy consumption was sourced from renewable energy. The waste diversion rate for 2024 was 81.09%. In 2022, 9.28% of its total investments were aligned with the EU Taxonomy. Rheinmetall has set a target for CO₂ neutrality by 2035 for Scope 1 and 2 emissions, without published interim goals. The company commenced voluntary reporting in accordance with TCFD recommendations in fiscal 2023, having carried out comprehensive climate scenario analyses for approximately 130 production sites in 2022, covering RCP 2.6, 4.5, 6.0, and 8.5 pathways.

Respect for Cultures & Communities

Rheinmetall AG's subsidiary, RWM Italia SpA, did not conduct adequate due diligence to identify or mitigate potential adverse impacts from the sale of its products to the Saudi-led coalition.

A bomb manufactured by the subsidiary was used in an airstrike in Yemen in 2016, killing a family of six. The subsidiary continued to export arms despite widely reported violations committed by the coalition, indicating a lack of social license for its operations and a failure to respond to cultural incidents. No cultural appropriation incidents have been reported for the company. Conversely, Rheinmetall has engaged in at least 11 formal partnerships with local community groups, including participation in the Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) program, co-sponsorship of the Düsseldorf Festival, and donations such as over €28,000 to the Rotary Club Nigdi Pune Charitable Trust for a school in India.

Safe & Smart Tech

In April 2023, Rheinmetall's civilian business unit was targeted by the Black Basta ransomware group

, resulting in an estimated loss of at least $10 million and impacting business recovery and sales . The company took steps to contain the attack and maintained transparent communication with stakeholders . In March 2023, a NoName hacker group launched a distributed denial-of-service attack , temporarily disrupting the company's website , which was swiftly restored . Rheinmetall adheres to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) through established management systems, data protection officers, and group-wide guidelines .

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

Rheinmetall achieved an 81.09% waste diversion rate in 2024, recovering 48,085 tonnes of waste through recycling.

The company utilizes approximately 70% recycled content for the aluminium used in its production. In 2024, 48.08% of the 13,608 tonnes of hazardous waste generated was recovered. Rheinmetall also implemented a district heating system at its St. Leon-Rot site, reusing industrial waste heat.