To restrict international warming to 1.5˚C, as per the 2015 Paris Settlement, greenhouse fuel (GHG) emissions should halve by 2030 and drop to internet zero by 2050. This week, Thai Union says it has turn into the ‘first’ seafood processor to set science-based targets for decreasing emissions that align with the Paris Settlement.
“As the primary international seafood firm to set targets verified by the Science Primarily based Targets initiative (SBTi), we are going to drive the deployment of recent environmental knowledge assortment instruments and assist ship a internet zero economic system,” Adam Brennan, chief sustainability officer at Thai Union Group instructed FoodNavigator.
“From farms, factories and forests to open sea fishing and aquaculture, we are going to speed up our path to a more healthy and extra sustainable world.”
What’s SeaChange 2030?
Thai Union is taken into account the worldwide chief in seafood. Boasting manufacturers similar to John West, Rooster of the Sea and Petit Navire, the multinational is the biggest producer of shelf-stable tuna on the planet and the largest importer of shrimps within the US.
Like all massive meals corporations, Thai Union is dealing with mounting strain to cut back its greenhouse fuel (GHG) emissions. It needs to be famous that the seafood business is answerable for fewer GHG emissions in comparison with its land-based counterpart: a 2018 examine revealed in Nature Local weather Change, titled ‘Gasoline use and greenhouse fuel emissions of world fishers’, discovered that the worldwide marine fishing fleet produces GHG emissions equal to 4% of the full emissions from international meals manufacturing.
Thai Union’s net-zero ambitions fall underneath its newly launched SeaChange 2030 sustainability plan. The technique contains setting ‘aggressive’ targets to satisfy by 2030, which Thai Union believes are the ‘broadest reaching’ within the seafood business.
“These are our first internet zero targets. Over the previous few years, we performed our first full greenhouse fuel stock, together with scope 3 emissions from throughout the total provide chain, and submitted our dedication letter to the SBTi stating our intention to announce near-term and long-term local weather targets,” defined Brennan.
“With SeaChange 2030, we at the moment are in a position to publicly share our targets.”
The corporate says its commitments are designed to assist scale back carbon; minimise waste; safeguard ecosystems; guarantee secure, respectable, and equitable work is a actuality throughout the meals chain; and advance a more healthy world.
What are scope 1, 2 and three emissions?
Scope 1 emissions consult with greenhouse fuel (GHG) emissions made by an organization straight, for instance these related to the working of processing equipment or autos; Scope 2 emissions are these made by an organization not directly, for instance by way of electrical energy use; and Scope 3 emissions are these an organization is not directly answerable for inside its worth chain, similar to through ingredient sourcing or transportation gas.
Specializing in internet zero, somewhat than carbon offsets
Below the SeaChange 2030 sustainability plan, Thai Union is committing to cut back scope 1, 1, and three GHG emissions by 42% by 2030, and to attain internet zero emissions by 2050.
These commitments comprise two near-term targets that align with the SBTi methodology. One goal is for Thai Union’s personal operations masking scope 1 and a couple of emissions, whereas the opposite is masking the worth chain’s scope 3 emissions, defined Brennan.
“Thai Union chosen the best degree of ambition for our scope 3 emissions goal, which implies that it’s aligned with the 1.5˚C pathway and the Paris Settlement. Aligning with this settlement means each targets are -42% towards a 2021 baseline.”
When formulating this objective, the corporate mentioned it knew it was essential to ‘tackle the problem’ and prolong its targets throughout the worth chain. This implies ‘considerably’ decreasing emissions from owned actions, bought items and providers, gas and vitality associated actions, and upstream and downstream transportation and distribution.
From a sourcing perspective, Thai Union plans to make sure zero deforestation throughout its worth chain, in addition to decreasing farm operations’ vitality use, utilising various feed components, and exploring zero and low carbon gas applied sciences.
“In our manufacturing, we’ll section out coal from our operations, set up extra renewable vitality and improve vitality effectivity. We’ll additionally look to make sure recyclable packaging is recycled and scale back the demand for uncooked supplies.
“All these deliberate initiatives will result in absolute reductions, which is our focus somewhat than counting on carbon offsets.”
Sustainable sourcing of uncooked supplies
Thai Union has pledged to make sure 100% of each wild-caught and farmed seafood will likely be produced responsibly or in an enchancment programme, in addition to with accountable practices based mostly on the corporate’s secure, respectable and equitable work commitments.
Because it stands, Thai Union considers 81% of its wild-caught seafood is at the moment produced responsibly. That is made up of 28% at the moment licensed by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), 13% in evaluation, and 40% underneath fishery enchancment tasks (FIPs).
For farmed seafood, 61% is sourced responsibly for Rooster of the Sea Frozen Meals (COSFF), and 35% is at the moment sourced responsibly in Thailand.
The seafood main can be committing to sourcing 100% licensed sustainable soy and palm oil, making certain zero deforestation and conversion throughout its provide chain.
The corporate plans to make use of a number of certification our bodies, similar to Spherical Desk on Accountable Soy (RTRS) and ProTerra, which meet a minimal threshold on points similar to authorized compliance, accountable working circumstances, environmental duty, good agricultural practices, respect for authorized land use, and safety of neighborhood relations.
Thai Union’s personal feed operations at the moment use 74% licensed Greatest Aquaculture Practices (BAP) feed. “We’ll proceed to work with our feed operations to satisfy these new commitments, whereas additionally extending the scope to incorporate all feed producers in our provide chain.
“Our preliminary focus will likely be on enhancing traceability to higher perceive the established order, the dangers and alternatives to drive enhancements.”
Unwrapping packaging commitments
Packaging is a big contributor of GHG emissions. For meals merchandise (produced on land), packaging is believed to account, on common, for round 5% of the vitality used within the life cycle of a product. Guaranteeing packaging recyclability helps scale back this impression.
Thai Union has introduced a dedication to make sure recyclable packaging for 100% of its branded merchandise by 2025 and for 60% of personal label merchandise by 2030.
At the moment, 86% of its branded merchandise are packaged utilizing sustainable supplies, alongside a mean recycled content material of 35%.
“At Thai Union, our plan is to drive innovation to make sure our packaging is recyclable, compostable or reusable while growing the usage of recycled materials,” Brennan detailed.
By advancing its packaging ranking system and creating round economic system options, the corporate additionally plans to cut back air pollution from ending up in landfills, prolong the lifetime of packages, and allow their accountable disposal.
“Moreover, our holistic technique contains being energetic individuals and advocates for laws and authorities interventions that assist efficient recycling. Advocating for elevated efficient recycling closes the hole between packaging supplies which might be technically recyclable however won’t really be recycled as a result of nationwide recycling infrastructure limitations.”
Enhancing the sustainability credentials of its packaging will even assist mitigate plastic air pollution. Thai Union has pledged to divert 1,500 tons of ocean-bound plastic from getting into waterways and oceans by way of avoidance, mitigation, and elimination.
“Our holistic method contains air pollution prevention by way of new improvements, driving consciousness by way of training, changing to extra sustainable packaging supplies and the usage of interceptors in waterways.”
