2023 IMPACT REPORT Prepared by Hamish Walker & Savanna Ronco
CONT ENT S
1 0 OUR COMMITMENT
A LETTER FROM OUR SUSTAINABILITY TEAM 0 3
0 4 ABOUT SEATTLE FISH CO., VALUES, LEADERSHIP ASPIRATION
1 1 GOALS & RESULTS
0 5 ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AWARDS & P A R T N E R S
1 2
CARBON FOOTPRINT
0 6 IMPACT REPORT 2022: OUR PURPOSE
SEA PACT & YEAR-END R E V I EW 1 5
0 7 OUR PEOPLE & OUR COMMUNITY
STAY IN TOUCH
@seattlefishco
Seattle Fish Company
0 8 ECO SCORE PROGRAM
/SeattleFishCo
seattlefish.com
2023 IMPACT REPORT
Reflecting on our journey over the past few years, we are proud of the significant strides we have made. Two key insights stand out. First, as we assess our carbon footprint, we recognize that one of our most significant impacts comes from flying fresh fish over long distances. Second, an Outlaw Ocean Project report has shed light on labor issues in some areas of the seafood supply chain, prompting us to take proactive steps. To address the first issue, we have highlighted later in this report some of the differences between different fish, to allow our customers to choose lower carbon footprint products if they would like to. Regarding labor standards, we have taken decisive actions. We have ceased sourcing products processed in China where possible until we can ensure high labor standards are met. Additionally, we are collaborating closely with our shrimp suppliers to guarantee that shrimp from India is processed in well-managed facilities. While these issues are complex and stopping purchases from certain countries may not always be the best solution, we are committed to working with our suppliers to establish and meet clear standards, leveraging our purchasing power for positive change . This approach mirrors our support for Fishery Improvement Projects, where instead of abandoning fisheries with challenges, we use our resources to drive improvements. Ultimately, both challenges stem partly from the need for the US to import a significant portion of the seafood we consume. Although we export over $5 billion worth of seafood annually, many of our favorite items, such as salmon and shrimp, are imported, often from Europe and Chile. By efficiently and economically growing and processing more of these items in North America, we can reduce labor abuse risks and carbon footprints . There are numerous suitable sites for aquaculture across the US and Canada, but the complex regulatory environment poses significant barriers in terms of time and money. While additional land-based agriculture is limited without harming natural habitats, offshore aquaculture presents a promising opportunity to grow more food with minimal and short-term environmental impacts. This is why we support initiatives like Stronger America Through Seafood and the AQUAA Act. Seafood remains one of the healthiest and most sustainable protein sources , and we are excited to continue supporting the market's evolution as our food needs grow. Thank you for your ongoing partnership with Seattle Fish Company and Lombardi Brothers Meats. Please feel free to reach out if you would like to learn more about sustainable choices. A LETTER FROM OUR SUSTAINABILITY TEAM
HAMISH WALKER Sustainability Consultant Seattle Fish Company
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ABOUT SEATTLE FISH CO.
For more than 100 years, Seattle Fish Co. has been dedicated to serving those who serve others. It all began back in 1918, when our founder, Mose Iacino, first saw the opportunity to bring fresh seafood to landlocked Colorado. Hand-selected fresh fish from the Seattle markets was carefully packed in sawdust and ice, then shipped to Denver by railcar - replenishing the ice at each stop along the way. Then, from Union Station, he tirelessly pushed a cart around downtown, bringing sought-after fish and oysters to Denver chefs, markets and restaurants. The core values that Mose instilled in his budding company back then still drive us today. They are what we stand for, what we believe in – and they’re reflected every day in the work we do, the people we employ, and the businesses we serve. Quality and customer service are paramount – we take pride in every product we offer, and partner closely with you to anticipate your needs and help deliver exceptional experiences to your customers daily. We are a family first and company second. Every day our diverse, engaged and high-performing staff work together toward common goals. We’re passionate about giving back. We believe it’s our responsibility - through outreach, fundraising and volunteering with nonprofits – to make a positive and lasting impact on the community we love and that has supported us since day one. What underpins all these values – and really sets us apart – is our holistic dedication to sustainability. Since its inception, Seattle Fish Co. has devoted itself to sustainable, big-picture best practices – from responsible sourcing to 24/7 handling, to reducing waste and energy use at every opportunity, and striving to educate and inform our employees, our customers and the public on why we do what we do. Our leadership aspiration is to Lead the Growth of Sustainable Seafood - and that wouldn't be possible without the combined effort of our employees, the vendors we work with, and the customers who support us.
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ACHIEVEMENTS, ACCOLADES & INDUSTRY INVOLVEMENT
Seattle Fish Company is proud to be deeply involved with local and national sustainability programs, and to have received certifications and awards that underscore our commitment to environmental stewardship. We consider this walking the walk, and following through on the practices we preach.
CERTIFICATIONS & INVOLVEMENT
First in the Rocky Mountain region to be Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified (2008) Certified by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) SQF Food Safety & Quality Certified Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) certified
National Fisheries Institute member; Former CEO & President, Derek Figueroa, served as 2021 NFI Chair Five graduates of the National Fisheries Institute Future Leaders Program Dedicated to community involvement (ProStart, Project Angel Heart, We Don't Waste)
Colorado Green Business Network - Silver Cofounded industry non-profit, SeaPact, to aid in the development of Fishery Improvement Projects (FIP's) around the world; Hamish Walker served as 2017 & 2018 Chair Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, Member Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS), Member
AWARDS
OUR PARTNERS
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PURPOS E At Seattle Fish Company we take our role and responsibility as a supplier of sustainable protein seriously. We make e very possible effort to be efficient and conserve resources while providing nutritious food to the communities we serve. Our annual Impact Report offers an opportunity to reflect on progress made and goals achieved, as well as the chance to set our intentions for the following year. There is no time to waste – in the next 50 years, humanity will need as much food as has been consumed in the last 10,000 years. We can’t increase the amount of cultivated land without accelerating climate change so we must transform how and where we produce and source our food . Seattle Fish Co. believes that seafood will play a major role in this transformation. Seventy percent of the Earth’s surface is water, yet less than seven percent of protein for human consumption comes from it. Fish and shellfish make excellent livestock converting more of the food they eat into edible protein, are less reliant on freshwater resources and can even have a positive impact on the environment. For example, shellfish farming has restored many coastal habitats and improved water quality. Responsible fishing and aquaculture present an opportunity to provide our communities with a healthy protein while being conscious of our impact on the environment. We also recognize that many people want diversity in their diets , and terrestrial meat is likely to be an important part of our diets for the foreseeable future. Indeed, there are huge areas of land that are only suitable for raising livestock, and regenerative practices that mimic ancient grazing patterns can actually improve land quality and remove carbon from the atmosphere . So alongside our commitment to seafood, and following the addition of Lombardi Brothers Meats to our portfolio, we will also be looking at ways to continuously improve the environmental impact of the terrestrial meats we source. More to come on this! As we work to fulfill our leadership aspiration of Leading the Growth of Sustainable Seafood Consumption, and as we add more terrestrial proteins to our portfolio, we know we must be intentional in how we grow, catch and farm our products . We will continue to identify the top priorities to address and set action plans to ensure we are always reducing our impact on our environment and ensuring we have abundant food sources for generations to come.
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OUR PEOPLE
Simply put, we wouldn't be where we are today without our Seattle Fish Co. & Lombardi Brothers family. Our employees are the heart of our organization, working tirelessly 24/7 to help us achieve our goal of sustainably feeding people. Whether it's a knowledgeable Sales Representative working with a customer to identify the right items for their menu, our Purchasing team scouring the world to find those perfect products, our Production team carefully cutting a fish or steak by hand or a friendly driver making the final delivery -- each and every employee plays an important part in our process. Our employees pride themselves on living and breathing our core values of Customer Service, Family, Philanthropy, Quality & Sustainability . We learn together, challenge each other respectfully and encourage one another to grow.
COMMUNITY IMPACT
We wouldn't be around if it weren't for the amazing support of our community. Every year, our employees find new, unique ways to give back and say thank you. Here are just a couple of the ways they made a difference in 2023 by working with local philanthropic partners and identifying opportunities for corporate sponsorship. 320+
$73k "In kind" product donations made to Project Angel Heart
$84k In total charitable contribution dollars
Volunteer hours worked, including local nonprofits such as We Don't Waste and Project Angel Heart
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Eco Score Program
In 2019, we launched the Seattle Fish Co. Eco Score program to recognize and elevate the good being done in the industry through these sustainability initiatives, and provide clarity for our customers, to make easy, informed purchasing decisions that result in a direct, positive change to the health of our oceans. We’re proud to be the first seafood distributor in the industry to offer a completely free program and tool like this to our customers. Seattle Fish has made a commitment to continually improve and increase our own Eco Score every year, aiming to be consistently in the “Excellent” category before 2025 with all of our purchases. This is an ambitious goal – we distribute over 15 million pounds of seafood each year – but one we feel is important for the health of our oceans, and the future of our business. In 2023, we moved our total company Eco Score up to 7.44. The modest increase was driven by significantly increased sales of MSC certified Pacific cod. The percentage of red, or unrated items also increased however to 4%, driven by the change in status of Maine lobster, which lost its MSC certification in Q4 of 2022, and was red rated by Monterey Bay Aquarium. Increased sales of red-rated frozen king crab also contributed.
HOW IT WORKS:
We Compare All The Data To Our Benchmarks Our Eco Score takes into consideration the major, credible seafood sustainability certifications, accreditations, fishery improvement projects, and rating programs and then compares them to our own internal benchmarking standards. We use this information to score every single seafood product that we source and purchase, and label them accordingly in our system. We Analyze & Score Your Purchases We then use that scoring data to analyze your purchases on a monthly basis and provide you with a custom email detailing each product you ordered, plus your cumulative Eco Score. Since this email is specific to your business, you’ll be able to review your results and quickly decide if your current purchasing choices are where you’d like them to be, or if you want to adjust for improvement in certain areas. We Review Your Score & Make Changes Together We encourage our customers to review these Eco Score emails on a monthly basis, and also on a trending basis over the span of a few months. You’ll be able to see a noticeable change in your score just by switching up a few items on your menu or in your seafood case. Seattle Fish Co. can also help to recommend substitutions for any items you have questions or concerns about. We want to make it as easy as possible for you to identify opportunities to improve your purchasing and have an impact on our oceans. SIGN UP FOR FREE TODAY! To sign up for Seattle Fish Co.'s Eco Score Program, please speak with your Sales Rep or email sronco@seattlefish.com.
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SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFICATIONS & RATINGS: WHAT DO THEY ALL MEAN?
Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) SFC EcoScore 9.2 Comprehensive certification of farmed fish Audited chain of custody Includes assessment of Environment, Social practices and Occupational health and safety Public disclosure of audit/inspection
Monterey Bay Aquarium (MBA) Seafood Watch SFC EcoScore Green=7 (oysters and mussels 9), Yellow=4.7, Red=2.3 Based on scientific evaluation of wild fisheries and aquaculture, by region and catch/farming method Rates species as ‘Best Choice’ (green), ‘Good Alternative’ (yellow), and ‘Avoid’ (red). Also ‘Certified’ (blue) recognizes third party certifications such as MSC Rating can be different in the same area, depending on catch method A rating rather than a certification Includes assessment of species population, environmental impact including by-catch and fishery management. Maintain a very useful online tool and mobile app for looking up your fish. Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) SFC EcoScore 7.5 Aims to build alignment on seafood sustainability Benchmarking tool evaluates and recognizes other certifications, underpinned by UN FAO guidelines GSSI recognized certifications include Alaska Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM), Iceland Responsible Fisheries Management (IRFM), MSC, BAP, GlobalG.A.P., ASC and others Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) SFC EcoScore 4*=7.75, 3*= 7.2, 2*= 6.5, 1*= 3.8. Comprehensive certification of farmed fish ‘Stars’ are awarded for certification of Feed, Hatchery, Farms, and Processing BAP 1 star for processing plant only, 2 star for processing and farm, 3 and 4 star include certification of hatchery and/or feed. More commonly used in the Americas. GlobalG.A.P. EcoScore 6.5 Comprehensive certification of crops, livestock and farmed fish Includes assessment of Environment, Social practices and Occupational health and safety, animal welfare, food safety and biosecurity Encompasses feed, hatchery, and farm More commonly used in Europe. Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) SFC EcoScore 7.5 Comprehensive certification of wild fisheries Rigorous, transparent, multi-year process for accreditation Audited chain of custody Includes assessment of species population, environmental impact including by-catch and fishery management.
Friend of the Sea SFC EcoScore 7.25 Certification for wild capture fisheries and aquaculture as well as other products. Annual audits by independent international certification bodies. Evaluation against environmental sustainability and social accountability criteria Fair Trade SFC EcoScore 5.5 Certification focused on ensuring benefits of trade are share equitably through the supply chain For seafood, predominantly small producers in capture fisheries Includes some environmental standards
Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) SFC EcoScore 6 A wild fishery may have some issues now, but a FIP is a structured action plan to address these issues. Comprehensive FIPs are frequently targeted at working towards MSC certification, but basic FIPs may be smaller scope based on one or two specific issues
FIPs report annually, and are graded based on progress being made The most comprehensive list of FIPs can be found at fisheryprogress.org
What is the difference between a Certification & Rating? Certification programs offer a chain of custody and traceability standard on sustainability claims, whereas a rating system does not. Generally, fishery assessments in certification programs are conducted by independent accredited certification bodies as opposed to scientists selected by the rating system body. Wild-capture certification programs offer transparency and stakeholder engagement during the assessment process, whereas rating systems typically do not.
Our Sustainability Commitment
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Assess the sustainability of the product we procure and share this data with our customers, stakeholders, and community through the Seattle Fish Co. Eco Score Program. The Seattle Fish Co. Eco Score Program uses a sustainable scoring system that provides data on all of our products and allows our customers to make informed purchasing decisions. We will partner with fellow industry thought leaders and seafood champions to further our reach of this program and continue to grow sustainable seafood consumption. Shift procurement of our products to more sustainable and environmentally responsible products, as well as eliminate products that are critically unsustainable. By 2025, Seattle Fish Co. will achieve a minimum score of 8.00 on the Seattle Fish Co. Eco Score Program and focus on prioritizing purchases of product that meets or exceeds our sustainability standards. Foster continual improvement efforts in our industry by actively supporting Fishery Improvement Projects (FIP’s) and Aquaculture Improvement Projects (AIP’s), as well as participate on industry boards. Seattle Fish will support FIP’s / AIP’s and develop a mechanism to promote that participation to our customers and stakeholders. We will also participate on at least two industry boards that are dedicated to significant, positive change in the seafood industry. We commit to implementing the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) guidelines by 2030. Seattle Fish, in partnership with Sea Pact, has committed to implement GDST guidelines for all seafood products to help put a global standard to traceability and sustainability audits and streamline reporting. Create an ongoing series of workshops and events for employees and other stakeholders to provide education about issues and opportunities regarding sustainability. Seattle Fish will host educational workshops and training for our customers, employees, and other stakeholders to cultivate an appreciation for sustainable fishing practices and seafood as a healthy, sustainable food source. We commit to working collaboratively and transparently with stakeholders to address and uphold human rights. Seattle Fish Co. respects human and labor rights. We will continue to work collaboratively with industry groups, suppliers, and stakeholders to promote and implement industry best practices for social responsibility.
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Sustainability Goals & Results We have been tracking our facility resource usage since 2015 . Between 2015 and 2023 we have:
Reduced Electricity usage per pound of production by 33% Reduced Water usage per pound of production by 35% Reduced Trash to Landfill per pound produced by 78%
Having seen year on year increases in electricity, water and trash in 2022, we were able to return water and trash to a downward trajectory in 2023. Water usage has been reduced by a change in the way we sanitize our facility, reducing water intensity. Sorting of waste for recycling and reductions in re-packing of products have reduced our waste to landfill. Unfortunately, we saw a significant increase in electricity bought from the grid. We suspect this was due to a reduction in performance of our solar array, resulting in lower in-house generation.
2023 vs 2022
Since 2015 (Base line)
Electricity
+14%
-33%
Water
-10%
-35%
Trash
-18%
-78%
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Carbon Footprint
In 2022, we made our first attempt to quantify our Greenhouse gas emissions and identify our biggest impacts and opportunities. Greenhouse gas emissions are often referred to as scope 1, 2 and 3. Scope 1 emissions are where we burn the primary fossil fuel. For Seattle Fish, this would include natural gas for heating and diesel for our trucks. Scope 2 is where we are ‘contracting out’ the burning of fuel to meet our energy requirements, so that would include electricity that we use for refrigeration. Scope 3 is for energy used to support our business but not used by us directly and would include the production of the products we buy, and the freight to get them to us. Last year we identified that the great majority of our impact came from scope 3 , from the energy required to catch or farm our products, and to bring it to Colorado. Over the last year we have tried to get more specific about the relative impacts of different products and transportation modes. One thing we quickly realized was that we had significantly underestimated the emissions from production, which means that scope 3 is an even more dominant part of our footprint than we had thought– more on this later! In 2023, we also engaged a third party consultant to conduct a more detailed study of our scope 1 & 2 emissions in greater detail. Here’s a quick look at our Carbon Footprint breakdown and if you are interested in learning more, please continue reading!
Inbound Freight
27.8% Scope 3
Outbound freight
1.7% Scope 1
Internal Operations 1.6% Scope 1 & 2
Other
0.4% Scope 3
Farming/Catching of product
68.5% Scope 3
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Carbon Footprint Cont.
Scope 1 & 2 Emissions Study – Summary In 2023, we engaged a third party consultant to review our scope 1 and 2 emissions utilizing the GHG protocol. They also looked at our newly acquired Lombardi Brothers Meats (LBM) facilities. The footprint of our Seattle Fish facilities and operations was very much in line with previous estimates, at about 0.36lbs CO2/lb of product . The addition of the LBM facility increased this to about 0.5lbs/CO2/lb of product. The higher footprint of LBM facility is due to the refrigerants used to cool the plant, and higher electrical usage from the less efficient refrigeration. This will be the subject of further study. Our internal (scope 1 and 2) footprint is significantly lower than scope 3, which is where the majority of the reduction opportunity lies. Scope 3 emissions are those that are created outside our facilities, by others working on our behalf. For Seattle Fish Company, the majority of these come from the production of the products we sell and their transportation to us. In 2023, we took a closer look at the potential scope 3 emissions from our seafood products. Analysis of emissions from the seafood products that we sell* Fresh seafood is a very healthy source of protein and in many cases is very sustainable and may have a low carbon footprint compared to land-produced animal protein. Because of the wide range of catch and production methods, and the variable distances it is transported, there is also a wide range of carbon intensities for different items. Our objective here is to give some idea of the relative carbon footprints of different seafood items we bring to the Rock Mountain West market. To do this we have taken into account the energy requirements for catching, and farming items, as well as the transport to Denver. For production, we have taken median values from academic papers, though in reality there will be a lot of variability even for the same item. For transportation, we have a slightly more accurate picture, though there will also be variation. The big impact here is whether a product is flown, and how far it is flown. Air freight produces more than 6 times as much CO2 per mile as trucking, and more than 100 times as much as ocean freight, so the more fresh seafood we can source within North America and truck the better, and, if it is imported, frozen ocean freight has the lowest footprint. We estimated the average total scope 3 emissions from our seafood items from production and inbound transportation to be 9.8lbs of CO2 per lb of product . Of this total, 7lbs/lb comes from production (fishing and farming) and 2.8lbs/lb is from transportation. 46% of our seafood products come by truck and or ocean freight only. 38% come on intercontinental flights and the rest on short-haul flights. * We do not guarantee the accuracy of the calculations in this section. The numbers are intended to be directional and provide a guide on the relative footprints based on best available estimates of average emissions by product category and transport mode.
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The actual emissions attributable to each product vary a lot. We have categorized our seafood products into four categories based on our estimated range of CO2 emissions . Here is an overview of what we found: ULTRA LOW: <3.5LBS OF CO2 /LB. Farmed oysters and mussels are the sustainability stars with low energy production requirements. Their GHG emissions are only about 1.8lbs/lb if trucked in, or 3.2lb/lb if flown within North America. LOW: 5-10LBS OF CO2 /LB. This group includes a wide range of farmed fish like local hybrid striped bass, barramundi (fresh US and frozen imported), catfish, arctic char, and trout. Farmed Atlantic salmon also falls in this group if it has not been flown. In practice, this means USA or Canada produced fish. A good example would be Skuna Bay. Many wild fish are also in this group, such as cod, haddock, mackerel, US swordfish, walleye, octopus, squid and US produced fresh Mahi, frozen Mahi and frozen tuna. MEDIUM: 10-17LBS OF CO2 /LB. This group includes some fish that do not require much energy to produce but have often been flown long distances, such as Atlantic salmon from Chile, Scotland and Norway, European seabass (Branzino), and fresh tuna. There are also items that have higher carbon footprints from production, such as farmed tilapia, wild salmon, farmed and wild shrimp, wild scallops, grouper and snapper. HIGH: >17LBS OF CO2 /LB. This category includes items with energy intensive production such as crab and petrale sole, and may also be flown such as lobsters, halibut and dover sole. If you would like to know more about how to buy lower carbon-footprint items, please ask your sales representative to connect you with the Seattle Fish sustainability team. Carbon Footprint Cont.
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Sea Pact 2023 Projects
Otoliths-Lada Canada Otoliths-Lada Canada is a private laboratory specializing in fisheries and environmental sciences. We offer services to profit and non-profit organizations such as fisheries companies, governments, and universities. Our services include the assessment of fisheries sustainability and the impact of climate change on communities' livelihoods worldwide. Our expertise lies in analyzing the age and growth information of aquatic animals. Our work is demonstrated in literature that is published in peer reviewed scientific journals. As a founding member of Sea Pact, Seattle Fish serves as a partner along with a group of leading North American Seafood Companies dedicated to driving stewardship and continuous improvement of social, economic, and environmental responsibility throughout the global seafood supply chain. Here are a couple of the projects the group funded in 2023: Ocean Strategies Ocean Strategies’ Mission is to foster and support the hard and honest conversations that are required to ensure sustainable, equitable and accessible fisheries for generations to come. The grant project goals are to improve coordination and education between existing and future aquaculture industries and California’s commercial fishing community (including fishermen, leadership, staff, supply chain, NGO partners and policy-makers).
Year-End Review: Thank You!
Making an impact in sustainability is a journey - one that we are honored to take with you, our partners. Whether you are a foodservice or retail customer, vendor, philanthropic partner, employee, or community member, our efforts would not be possible without you .
If you are interested in learning more about how your purchase makes an impact, joining our Eco Score program, or just talking sustainability, please drop us a line!
sustainability@seattlefish.com
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