Seafood can Help you Achieve your Sustainability Goals and Lower your Environmental Footprint

Why is offering more fish and seafood the right move to make your business more sustainable? The food industry is leading on sustainability efforts and an increasing number of companies are making commitments to help address climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, also known as carbon. Most large food companies — and many small ones — have commitments, and maybe your company does also.

Committing to reduce our environmental footprint is something that companies in every part of our economy are now doing to tackle one of the world’s most pressing problems, like climate change and water scarcity. Food companies are uniquely positioned to make a big difference and achieve better business outcomes. Moves to simply shift the mix of foods we sell, recipes we use, and what we offer on our shelves and menus can make a big difference.

Since 2005, the change in the mix of proteins consumers bought from us has helped achieve 15% of U.S. carbon reduction goals. Increasing the share of protein choices that come from our oceans can get us to 20%. That’s a big win that is good for business, especially compared to very expensive alternatives like rebuilding our energy industry, or replacing most of our cars and trucks with newer models.

Most types of fish and seafood are climate friendly have a smaller environmental footprint than other protein choices, requiring less land, water, and feed to produce. Changing the mix of fish and seafood can reduce the carbon footprint of what we sell even more. A few varieties like air freighted farmed salmon and intensively farmed shrimp and fish caught by bottom trawling (dragging nets along the bottom of the ocean), have bigger carbon footprints. They’re also much less likely to be rated or certified as sustainable.

Merchandising and menuing sustainable choices can lower your environmental footprint along with diversifying choices. There are even some options including fish and mollusks that match the plant-based food choices and compare favorably to meat and poultry.

Market Insights

The growing consumer segment of Millennials, Gen Zers, and Gen Xers also want to replace red meat with fish and seafood. Many are motivated to do so because they are trying to reduce the environmental impact of their food choices. So, these moves can help win their brand loyalty.