WOOLWORTHS PARTNERS WITH WWF FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

With more and more Australian shoppers choosing to buy seafood, Woolworths and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Australia have partnered to further improve sustainable sourcing in the sector.

The collaboration will see WWF-Australia assess all of Woolworths’ Own Brand seafood on shelves and at the seafood counter using WWF’s independently developed methodology, and implement standards of traceability to make it easier for customers to choose sustainably produced seafood.

Over the past year, seafood sales have grown by around 7 per cent at Woolworths. Recent research shows that over 80 per cent of Australian seafood consumers believe that seafood needs to be protected for future generations to enjoy.

Woolworths General Manager Quality, Sustainability and Health, Alex Holt said: “Our oceans and marine life stocks are under increasing pressure as global populations grow and as demand for seafood soars."

“The Woolworths-WWF-Australia partnership is built on the shared commitment to build more sustainable fishing and aquaculture industries."

“We know our customers are enjoying more seafood each year and they are becoming increasingly more interested in knowing where their seafood is sourced from."

“Raising awareness of sustainably sourced products is an ongoing priority for Woolworths, as is ensuring that all the seafood of offer at our seafood counter as well as own brand seafood products, comes from sustainable sources."

“WWF-Australia brings decades of experience helping businesses improve the sustainability of their operations, and we’re excited to partner with them.”

Jo-anne McCrea, WWF-Australia’s Seafood Lead, said: “Globally, WWF works with major buyers like Woolworths to improve their supply chain management and leverage their purchasing power to promote more sustainable production of seafood."

“Working together with Woolworths will create real on the ground conservation outcomes for our precious marine environments. We will help Woolworths select seafood that minimises impacts on our oceans and marine life; work directly with fishing and aquaculture operations to help them improve sustainable practices where necessary; and make it easier for Woolworths customers to choose responsibly produced seafood."

“We are delighted to support Woolworths as they work towards a more sustainable future.”

The partnership follows Woolworths’ engagement in other responsible seafood initiatives including:

• Signatory to the Australian Seafood Traceability Statement, an industry-led business commitment towards best practice in traceability across the seafood supply chain
• ‘Whichfish’, an online tool developed by the Fisheries Research and Development Cooperation to help businesses understand the environmental risks associated with the seafood they buy and sell.