The Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative at Seafood Expo North America in Commitment to Advancing Labour Standards
June 28, 2024 /3BL/ - The Consumer Goods Forum's (CGF) Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) continues to share its active engagement in shaping the discourse on global sustainability standards, demonstrated by its participation in the Seafood Expo North America, held from March 10-12, 2024, in Boston. This respected event serves as a vital platform for industry leaders to convene and discuss pressing issues facing the seafood sector.
Alongside the expo, as part of our steady commitment to advancing sustainability standards worldwide, SSCI, in collaboration with the Seafood Ethics Action (SEA) Alliance, co-hosted a session titled "Improving Labour Standards through Industry Alignment." This lunch, panel and workshop style event was available to attendees of the expo’s multifaceted program, which features over 30 educational sessions led by top industry experts.
Designed with SEA Alliance to foster organic networking opportunities and informal discussions, over 50 stakeholders from across the seafood industry were in attendance. Participants delved into a robust panel discussion and workshop aimed at exploring strategies for bolstering labour standards and safeguarding worker rights across global seafood supply chains.
Moderated by Georgia Worrall, Head of SEA Alliance, the session featured insights from distinguished panelists including Luiza Reguse, Senior Manager SSCI at the CGF, Tracy Murai Assistant Director - Global Fisheries & Marine Sustainability at Thai Union, and Sarah Hussey, Seafood Responsible Sourcing Manager at Seafresh Group.
Each speaker brought invaluable perspectives and practical experiences to the table, emphasising the pivotal role of collaborative efforts in effecting meaningful change in labour conditions.
Key takeaways included:
- Harnessing Standards and Tools: Luiza Reguse underscored the importance of leveraging labour standards and tools to drive tangible impact on the ground. This included how the SSCI's benchmarking process ensures alignment with essential industry requirements, fostering trust and continuous improvement.
- Integration into Procurement Policies: Sarah Hussey highlighted the imperative of embedding labour standards into sourcing and procurement policies. She emphasised the significance of tools such as Global Fishing Watch’s Vessel Viewer in ensuring transparency and crew safety within sourcing vessels.
- Collaborative Endeavours: Tracy Murai elucidated the transformative potential of collaboration among industry stakeholders, NGOs, and regulatory bodies. She underlined the need for collective action and alignment on core labour standards to accelerate progress and enhance conditions for workers.
As the seafood industry navigates complex supply chains, SSCI remains dedicated to fostering alignment and collaboration among stakeholders. By leveraging structured frameworks like the SSCI, we can collectively elevate labour standards, mitigate risks, and cultivate resilient supply chains.
The Seafood Expo North America, alongside partners such as with SEA Alliance, serves as a critical springboard for these discussions, highlighting our ongoing dedication to driving the global conversation on sustainability standards.
The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) builds trust in sustainability standards worldwide by benchmarking third-party auditing and certification programmes and recognising schemes that meet social and environmental industry sustainability expectations. By providing an open-source list of recognised programmes, the SSCI delivers clear guidance on which schemes cover key sustainability criteria and apply relevant verification practices. The SSCI improves transparency in the market, facilitates decision-making on schemes at both buyer and supplier level, and sets responsible sourcing expectations for the industry. For more information, visit www.tcgfssci.com and sign up to receive our news and updates.
