Sodexo on Friday pledged that by 2015 100 percent of its contracted seafood purchases in worldwide will originate from Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-certified fisheries or Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP)-certified farms.
The announcement comes about a year-and-a-half after the global foodservice provider committed to selling only MSC-certified and BAP-certified seafood in North America by 2015.
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.
Addition, Sodexo is partnering with three companies to ensure environmental responsibility and accountability in seafood: NSF Surefish, which provides independent, third-party seafood inspections and facility auditing services; CleanFish, which links eco-friendly artisan seafood producers with the marketplace; and Koch Foods, a foodservice sales and marketing company that assists Sodexo with implementing its programs.
“When we implemented the Better Tomorrow Plan, we knew we had the ability to affect not only our sustainable seafood policies but to educate and influence clients and consumers about the impact of their choices,” said Ann Oka, senior VP of supply management at Sodexo. “We believe our Sustainable Seafood Initiative is unparalleled and can truly make a positive impact on the health of the world's oceans and fisheries, as well as providing consumers a better choice in seafood.”
Sodexo serves more than 10 million customers daily in corporations, healthcare facilities, retirement centers, schools and government buildings.
