THAI UNION AND WWF UK WIN SUSTAINABILITY AWARD

Thai Union and WWF UK win sustainability award. Thai Union and WWF-UK have been recognised as leaders in ‘Sustainable Supply Chains’ at this year’s prestigious edie Sustainability Leaders Awards.

A key date in the sustainability business calendar, the awards celebrate best-practice excellence across the spectrum of sustainable business; from the best efficiency programmes through to product innovation, from stakeholder engagement and CSR initiatives to the people making it happen.

Thai Union and WWF scooped the award as recognition of “how partnerships can help drive change on a global scale.”  Since 2014, Thai Union and WWF have been working together in Europe to deliver the commitments in the WWF ‘Seafood Charter’, which focuses on improving the sustainability of seafood supply chains. This work is supported globally through Thai Union’s SeaChange^® sustainability strategy and their ‘Tuna Commitment’ to source 100 per cent of branded tuna from fisheries that are either Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified or engaged in Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) to move them towards MSC certification.

At the start of the partnership, less than 5 per cent of Thai Union’s European supply chains were sourced from MSC certified fisheries and FIPs.  The figure now stands at 28 per cent from MSC certified fisheries, while over 90 per cent of the tuna within the European supply chains is now engaged in a FIP.

Thai Union’s work on human rights in supply chains has also earned the organisation praise from the UN, the Thai Government and multinational media firm Reuters Thompson, which shortlisted the company alongside Apple for its first Modern Slavery Award in 2018.

Tracy Cambridge, Responsible Sourcing Director Europe at Thai Union, said: “Together with WWF, Thai Union are taking a leading and proactive role in the sustainability revolution within the global seafood industry.  This edie award gives us great pride as it is a validation of the success of our combined efforts to improve the health of our oceans now and for future generations.”

Mike Barrett, Executive Director of Science & Conservation at WWF-UK, stated: “This is a very welcome recognition of the hard work and deep collaboration that have gone into this partnership over the last four years. We’re proud of our achievements to date in supporting Thai Union on their journey towards sustainability. More than ever we need businesses to step up in the fight for our world and take action to protect and restore nature.”

The comprehensive and rigorously judged initiative was based on votes from an independent, expert panel of sixteen judges.

Of the TUE-WWF partnership, the judges said: “This joint initiative is a great example of how partnerships can drive ambitious actions, facilitate new discussion and help to raise awareness of important issues. Thai Union’s commitment to the cause is particularly impressive, and this is a live demonstration of how partnerships can make business a force for good.”

Hundreds of applications were submitted from individuals and companies across 20 categories.  The winners were unveiled during a special ceremony at the Park Plaza hotel in London on 6 February.

This marks the second successful year for Thai Union at the edie Sustainability Leaders Awards.  In 2018, Dr Darian McBain, Global Director of Sustainable Development for Thai Union, was crowned Sustainability Leader of the Year.