Compass Group UK & Ireland has become the first major foodservice player to join the Sustainable Seafood Coalition (SSC), the industry-backed scheme whose ambition is for all fish and seafood sold in the UK to come from sustainable sources.
The scheme, which counts the majority of major UK supermarkets and seafood suppliers among its members, says it offers a practical and collaborative way of demonstrating good sourcing practices.
The SSC is not a certification scheme or an eco-label, in the vein of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) or Marine Conservation Society (MCS). Instead, members commit to two codes – the Responsible Sourcing Code and the Environmental Labelling Code – which set a benchmark for industry best practice.
The scheme was established in 2011 with the aim of bringing different businesses together to drive the seafood sustainability agenda. It has environmental NGO, Client Earth, as its secretariat, while other members include the likes of Hugh’s Fish Fight and the Sustainable Restaurant Association.
Compass’s most recent Corporate Responsibility Report includes a commitment to avoid endangered species of fish, buy more certified fish every year through an existing partnership with the Marine Conservation Society and only use line and pole caught tuna in packaged sandwiches.
“We love to serve excellent food and when it comes to seafood we know that a great seafood dish must be both delicious and sustainable,” said Duncan Gray, head of corporate responsibility at Compass Group UK & Ireland. “We’re proud to now be members of the Sustainable Seafood Coalition and extend our dedication to only using responsibly sourced fish across our business.”
