•Organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) produced from metal complexes.•Sustainability issues are imminent.•Focus on copper and zinc complexes.•Complex preparation.•Cooperativity, chirality, and printing. Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) produced from metal complexes play an important role in modern electroluminescent devices. While OLEDs are being used in display various applications such as TVs, smartphones and wearables already, a drastic increase in the production volume in the next years is being expected as soon as OLED lighting applications and printed OLEDs hit the market. Given that thus far, phosphorescent iridium compounds are required to make these products, sustainability issues are imminent. To review viable alternatives, we highlight the current status of sustainable metal complexes with a special focus on copper and zinc complexes. Ligand structures and complex preparation were highlighted. We also briefly address features like cooperativity, chirality, and printing.