Less than a month after pledging that by 2015 100 percent of its contracted seafood purchases worldwide will originate from Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-certified fisheries or Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP)-certified farms, Sodexo unveiled that it’s working with CleanFish, a sustainable seafood procurement company, to help it reach that goal in the United States. The partnership was announced on Monday during a press briefing at the International Boston Seafood Show.
According to Sodexo and CleanFish, the partnership is one of the largest initiatives of its kind and is designed to “significantly” increase the availability of sustainable fresh seafood in the United States. In North America, Sodexo reaches about 10 million consumers daily through corporations, healthcare and retirement facilities, schools and government buildings.
The plan, the details of which are still being finalized, will leverage CleanFish’s expertise in a collaborative effort with the MSC and BAP.
“The emphasis is on fresh,” said Mitch Greenberg, senior director of supply management for Sodexo. “We’re trying to increase the quantity of sustainable fresh seafood in the United States.”
Added Tim Matz, president of CleanFish, “We’re thrilled to be the lead partner in this initiative. Sodexo is uniquely positioned to have a significant impact on reducing the amount of unsustainable seafood in the industry while positively influencing customers’ choices in the marketplace.”
The pledge to source sustainable seafood is part of Sodexo’s Sustainable Seafood Initiative, one of 14 commitments the Paris-based company made as part of its companywide sustainability initiative, dubbed the Better Tomorrow Plan.
