BANGKOK — Thai Union Group PCL, a global seafood producer and owner of premium pet food subsidiary i-Tail Corporation PCL, has published its 2023 Sustainability Report. The report outlines the company’s sustainability goals and highlights progress toward the goals in its SeaChange® 2030 sustainability initiative.
“Thai Union’s commitment to sustainability is stronger than ever, and the progress we have made in 2023 is a testament to our dedication to leading positive change within the seafood industry,” said Thiraphong Chansiri, chief executive. Thai Union Group official.
SeaChange 2030 supports the Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) of the United Nations. The company’s goals include:
- Reducing Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 42% by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2050
- Investing THB 250 million (over $7 million USD) towards the protection and restoration of critical ecosystems
- Implementation of zero water discharge, zero waste to landfill and zero food loss in its five major global facilities by 2030
- Ensures that 100% of Thai Union’s shrimp are produced minimizing the impact on the ecosystem
- Expanding its responsible wild-caught sourcing program to all key species
- Providing a safe, fair and decent workplace
“Our SeaChange 2030 strategy not only sets ambitious goals but also lays out a clear path towards achieving them,” said Chansiri. “We have a lot of work ahead of us, but I’m proud of the strides we’ve made and remain deeply committed to driving further improvements not only in our operations but in the industry around the world.”
Some of the achievements of the Thai Union in 2023 include:
- Reduction of GHG emissions for Scope 1 and 2 by 8.8% from 2022 to 2023
- Increasing the percentage of tuna purchased from vessels equipped with electronic monitoring and/or human observers to 90% from the 71% baseline in 2021
- 85% of its total tuna catch comes from fisheries that are either Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-certified, in MSC assessment, or in a credible Fishery Improvement Program
- Becomes a signatory to two global environmental initiatives — Ocean Breakthroughs and Transforming our Food Systems
- The Shrimp Decarbonization initiative, developed with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Ahold Delhaize USA, was launched to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Publishing its Human Rights Risk Assessment and updated Human Rights Policy
“Every year, we push the boundaries of our industry on sustainability, and 2023 is no exception,” said Adam Brennan, chief sustainability officer at Thai Union. “The advancements detailed in our latest Sustainability Report reflect our ongoing efforts to protect our oceans, support our communities, and ensure the long-term viability of our business. At SeaChange 2030, we are well positioned to continue this critical work and inspire others to join us in these efforts.”
Thai Union Group was recognized in 2023 for the 10th consecutive year in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) and ranked No. 1 in the Seafood Stewardship Index for the third consecutive time for working towards the UN SDGs. In early 2024, the Group achieved a B rating from the global environmental disclosure non-profit CDP for its commitment to addressing climate change threats.
Read the full maintenance report here.
Read more about sustainability efforts throughout the pet food and treat industry.
