Thai Union Group

Thai Union Group Public Company Limited (TU) has been ranked number one on the Seafood Stewardship Index (SSI) for the second consecutive time for its performance delivering towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). Thai Union’s actual performance was measured by the independent group and was assessed to be first in three out of the five areas – governance and strategy, traceability and social responsibility. Thai Union also topped the rankings on the inaugural index in 2019, with the SSI paused in 2020 due to COVID-19. The SSI assessed the 30 largest seafood companies around the world, to understand how and to what extent they are contributing to the sustainable management of the oceans and coastal ecosystems and to the SDGs. The review also looked into how companies are implementing responsible social practices in all stages of the supply chain. The SSI assessment methodology starts with the awareness and recognition that a company has about its impacts on the environment and society. It then assesses those impacts and how the company is implementing effective and meaningful activities that will mitigate negative impacts and transform the seafood industry into one that respects and protects the natural resources on which it depends and those working in the sector. The SSI, which was developed by the World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA), said Thai Union received the highest score in governance and strategy for demonstrating a solid sustainability strategy while also explaining how it engages with its stakeholders. “At Thai Union, we have an unwavering commitment to sustainability, not just within our company but across the global seafood industry,” said Thiraphong Chansiri, Thai Union CEO. “To be ranked number one again by the Seafood Stewardship Index is not just a moment of great pride for Thai Union, but also a great reflection on the incredible commitment and dedication of our team, which is constantly striving to make continuous improvement across our industry in line with our corporate goal of “Healthy Living, Healthy Oceans”. Thai Union’s strong performance in traceability was because of the full disclosure it provides of its seafood portfolio, including through the Ocean Disclosure Project, a global platform where seafood businesses publicly share details on the sourcing of their seafood. The SSI said that as a member of the Seafood Business for Ocean Stewardship (SeaBOS), Thai Union has also committed to the Global Dialogue for Seafood Traceability (GDST), supporting the implementation of robust traceability in the seafood industry. The SSI said Thai Union was also ranked highest in social responsibility because of its “clear commitment to ensure decent working and living conditions on board fishing vessels,” adding that the Company also monitors compliance and discloses the results. It also acknowledged the evidence that Thai Union provides on how it is implementing improvements through engagement with suppliers to improve their performance and also their compliance with the Vessel Code of Conduct. The SSI said that with three billion people relying on seafood for their diet, “the significant influence of these companies on the world’s seafood business means that they can accelerate positive change. Leading the move towards a more sustainable seafood industry.”