Sustainability and corporate responsibility are subjects that Sodexo [1] feels very strongly about. A new step in this direction is that Sodexo is supporting the practice of sustainable fishing by offering fish products with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) [2] eco-label. In order to be permitted to display the logo, Sodexo became the first contract caterer in the Netherlands to be certificated by SGS, an independent certifier, on April 8th, 2009. The first four Sodexo sites are now certified and Sodexo expects all its 1,300 sites to be certificated by the end of 2009.
The MSC label is an international eco-label for seafood products from sustainable and well-managed fisheries. Sustainable fishing in accordance with this label means that fish stocks are sustainably managed and as little damage as possible is caused to sea life so that eco-systems are not being damaged. Furthermore, the fishers must be able to demonstrate that their fishery is well-managed. In order to ensure traceability, every link in the supply chain from Ocean to plate has to be certified. This assures the consumer that fish with the MSC label can be traced back to a sustainable fishery.
Joke van Buuren, Corporate Quality Manager at Sodexo, explains: “In order to qualify for the MSC certificate for traceability, the goods-in process, storage, preparation and communication in relation to MSC products must meet a number of requirements, and Sodexo has incorporated these requirements into its ISO 9001 quality system. The Sodexo site managers are trained in how to handle MSC fish, while Sodexo’s clients and consumers are informed about the sale of MSC fish, so that they know what the MSC logo stands for. The fish products with the MSC logo are not more expensive, incidentally, which means that it is just as economical to eat sustainable fish. Sodexo already has a number of sustainable MSC-certificated products in its range, including Alaska salmon, whitefish nuggets (kibbeling) and fried fillets of white fish (lekkerbekjes). This range is continually being expanded.”
Nathalie Steins, Commercial Manager of MSC Nederland, says: “The certification of Sodexo is a new milestone for the MSC programme in the Netherlands. An awful lot of people enjoy their lunch or meal in a (company) restaurant every day. With 1,300 sites where MSC fish is being served, even more people will get to know our label. The MSC certification means that Sodexo is not only showing how serious it is about corporate social responsibility, but it is also promoting knowledge of the MSC eco-label among consumers. By buying fish with the MSC label, consumers are making an active personal contribution to healthy fish stocks and oceans.”
