Transparency Triumphs: ISO standards map out finfish’s environmental impact

11 Jan 2021 --- The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published standardized guidelines to quantify the environmental sustainability of finfish.

The guidance enables carbon footprint calculation and communication of finfish products from fishing or cultivation through to consumption.

This information in the publication ISO 22948, Carbon footprint for seafood – Product category rules (CFP–PCR) for finfish is relevant for products from both fisheries and aquaculture value chains.

The standardized approach comes as transparency and sustainability are increasingly important as highlighted in Innova Market Insights’ Top Trend for 2021: “Transparency Triumphs.” 

Through a uniform calculation of finfish’s carbon footprint, consumers will have more tools to select products that align with their ecological values. 

The guidelines can also give suppliers a competitive edge with a greater understanding of their products’ environmental impact. 

 A uniform calculation of finfish’s carbon footprint will give consumers more tools to select products that align with their ecological values.Standardizing finfish’s carbon footprint
While consumers have become increasingly aware of the importance of environmental sustainability, accurate measurement has long been a barrier. 

Accurate measuring of a product’s impact is one of the first steps to fulfilling the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production. 

ISO’s new standard details the product category rules for the calculation and communication of the carbon footprint of seafood as defined in ISO 14067:2018, Greenhouse gases – Carbon footprint of products – Requirements and guidelines for quantification. 

The finfish-specific methodology builds on the requirements of ISO standards for life-cycle assessment and products’ carbon footprint. 

It is expected that widespread use of the standard will serve as a valuable tool to reduce energy consumption and improve the overall environmental impact of the seafood industry while fueling greater consumer demand for low-carbon products.

Calls for sustainable fishing
As the world’s growing population continues to put a strain on the earth’s natural resources, overfishing has become an area of significant concern. 

Last October, The European Commissions’ proposed Baltic fishing limits for 2021 still left fish stocks “with no chance to recover,” according to ocean lobby groups and NGOs. 

Turmoil in the fishing category has led to a boom in plant-based seafood alternatives or “no-catch” products.

Givaudan hailed plant-based fish products as “the next big thing” in alternative proteins. Other key ingredient players, such as Hydrosol, alongside food giants including Nestlé, are stepping into the space, with significant progress anticipated by the companies this year.

Most recently, New Wave Foods, producer of plant-based shrimp made from sustainably sourced seaweed and plant proteins, completed a US$18 million Series A round to finance the rollout of plant-based shrimp. 

The company has called 2021 “the year of the shrimp,” as its product goes to market within the US$9 billion global shrimp industry. 

Last year, Friend of the Sea introduced an environmental certification system for plant-based seafood to further ensure sustainable practices as consumers opt for alternatives to conventional fish and shellfish. 

By Missy Green