Faroese Atlantic salmon farming company Hiddenfjord has received a 2021 SEAL Business Sustainability Award in recognition of the 94 percent reduction that it has made in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the transportation side of its operations.
The award was given by SEAL – standing for Sustainability, Environmental Achievement, and Leadership – in the category of Environmental Initiatives.
“We humbly accept this award, recognizing that we all have to take more responsibility when it comes to making a change today. As current stewards of the planet, we owe it to future generations to not just talk about sustainability but to take direct action towards creating it,” Hiddenfjord CEO Atli Gregersen said.
The carbon footprint cuts followed Hiddenfjord’s decision to cease using airfreight to deliver its fresh salmon to customers in North American and European markets in favor of sea transport. This move came into effect in October 2020.
“Our core value is sustainability, and our fundamental belief is that our activities today must not hinder future activities,” Gregersen said.
Hiddenfjord’s actions also garnered it a Gold Award in the Environmental and Corporate Sustainability category of the Business Brilliance Awards in the United Kingdom, and Gregersen has received a nomination for Business Leader of the Year by the U.K. edie Sustainability Leaders Awards for Hiddenfjord’s work in animal welfare and sustainability over the last 30 years. The winners of the edie awards will be announced on in February 2022.
To accomplish the switch to ocean freight, Hiddenfjord devised a new processing and cooling system to keep its salmon fresh while also overhauling its global distribution chain. Its salmon are now packaged three hours after harvesting and remain in an unbroken, regulated cold chain until reaching customers.
Photo courtesy of Hiddenfjord
