Retailer Snapshot
The Loblaw sustainable seafood commitment states that, by 2013, the company will procure all seafood sold in its stores from sustainable sources, (Loblaw defines this as fisheries certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), farms certified by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) or products certified by an equivalent standard), “acceptable sources with conditions, or sources making meaningful progress toward sustainability”. Loblaw states that over 94% of its seafood is currently in line with this commitment.
Tweet this retailer and let them know what you like – or don’t like – about their policy. For example:
Great to read on Seafood Progress that @LoblawsON has published how much of its seafood sourcing is in line with its sustainability commitment. Next #transparency action - species names & harvest method on seafood labels, pls! Click To TweetLoblaw’s suppliers must sign a Code of Conduct that sets out mandatory minimum social responsibility standards and adherence to this Code is supported by independent, third party audits on all overseas suppliers. Loblaw is also committed to improving traceability of its seafood products, including through increasing the number of stores and distribution centers that have chain-of-custody certification (necessary for in-store labelling of MSC and ASC products). Loblaw collects data on scientific (Latin) names, country of origin, and harvest method for all seafood products and labels all of its private label products with the country of origin and whether the product is wild or farmed.
SeaChoice recommends that Loblaw continue to improve its labelling by introducing information such as the species (Latin) name and harvest method on its fresh and private label seafood products, and its transparency by disclosing information about its product sourcing through initiatives like the Ocean Disclosure Project.
In the process of developing this profile, SeaChoice corresponded with Jennifer Lambert, Senior Manager of Sustainability at Loblaw Companies Limited.
Step 1: Does the retailer have a comprehensive commitment on sustainable seafood?
Overall Step Score
Does the policy include time-bound objectives for addressing environmental issues, social concerns and traceability?
The step score is based on the average of Step 1 key performance indicators (step elements) listed below; click the + signs for more detailed information.
Step Elements
1.1 Has a publicly available commitment or policy to source more environmentally sustainable seafood
Scoring Rationale
In 2009, Loblaw committed to procuring all of the seafood sold in its stores from sustainable sources by 2013 (for wild-caught seafood, meaning it is certified by the Marine Stewardship Council or an equivalent standard, and for farmed seafood, meaning it is certified by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council or an equivalent standard). Loblaw’s procurement is nearing 100% compliance with this policy (personal communication, J. Lambert, 13/03/2018).
- 0% No publicly available commitment or policy
- 25% General statement of commitment to sustainable seafood without clear objectives or timelines
- 50% Clear objective for sustainable procurement but no reference to standards and no timeline
- 75% Clear objective for sustainable procurement that references a standard with clear objectives but no timeline
- 100% Clear objective for sustainable procurement that references a standard with clear objectives and a timeline (or a timeline is not needed because objectives are already being met)
- Scoring Rubric
Scoring Rationale
Suppliers to Loblaw must sign a Code of Conduct that sets out minimum standards which suppliers must meet. This includes the requirement that suppliers must at all times comply with local laws and regulations (unless the provisions in the Code of Conduct provide a greater level of protection for workers, in which case these provisions must be met). Suppliers must agree that Loblaw may verify compliance of its suppliers with the Code of conduct, either through supplier self-evaluation or through an audit (either performed by Loblaw or an independent third party). Loblaw’s Code of Conduct for suppliers can be accessed here and its Ethical sourcing page can be found here.
- 0% No publicly available commitment or policy
- 25% General statement or stance on social responsibility
- 50% Stance on social responsibility with reference to a credible international standard (e.g. the International Labour Organization, the UN's Universal Declaration on Human Rights, etc.)
- 75% Social responsibility commitment that references a credible standard with clear objectives OR actions or expectations made upon seafood suppliers
- 100% Social responsibility commitment that references a credible standard with clear objectives AND actions or expectations made upon seafood suppliers
- Scoring Rubric
Scoring Rationale
Loblaw’s commitment to increasing its range of products available that are certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) or Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) entails a commitment to sourcing more traceable seafood. Loblaw is also committed to increasing the number of stores with chain-of-custody certification (which it reports in its 2015 Corporate Social Responsibility report has increased to a total of 305 Loblaw stores and four distribution centers).
- 0% No publicly available commitment or policy for traceability
- 33% General statement of commitment traceability without clear objectives or timelines
- 66% Clear traceability objectives but no timeline
- 100% Clear traceability objectives and timeline
- Scoring Rubric
Step 2: Is the retailer collecting data to support their commitment?
Overall Step Score
What information is the retailer collecting to monitor the environmental and social sustainability of their seafood products?
The step score is based on the average of Step 2 key performance indicators (step elements) listed below; click the + signs for more detailed information.
Step Elements
Scoring Rationale
Loblaw collects data on species’ scientific names for all seafood products sold (personal communication, J. Lambert, 13/03/2018).
- 0% No data collected on species' scientific names (or no information available)
- 50% Some data collected on species' scientific names
- 100% Comprehensive data collected on species' scientific names
- Scoring Rubric
Scoring Rationale
Loblaw collects data on country of origin for all seafood products sold (personal communication, J. Lambert, 13/03/2018).
- 0% No data collected on country of origin (or no information available)
- 50% Some data collected on country of origin
- 100% Comprehensive data collected on country of origin
- Scoring Rubric
2.3 Retailer collects data on whether the seafood products being sold are wild or farmed - the "how"
Scoring Rationale
Loblaw collects data on whether its products come from wild or farmed seafood (personal communication, J. Lambert, 13/03/2018).
- 0% No data collected on whether seafood products are wild or farmed (or no information available)
- 50% Some data collected on whether seafood products are wild or farmed
- 100% Comprehensive data collected on whether seafood products are wild or farmed
- Scoring Rubric
Scoring Rationale
Loblaw collects data on gear type or farming methods for all seafood products sold (personal communication, J. Lambert, 13/03/2018).
- 0% No data collected on gear type or farming methods (or no information available)
- 50% Some data collected on gear type or farming methods
- 100% Comprehensive data collected on gear type or farming methods
- Scoring Rubric
Step 3: Is the retailer making responsible sourcing decisions?
Overall Step Score
Are the retailer’s procurement decisions supporting their environmental and social sustainability commitments?
The step score is based on the average of Step 3 key performance indicators (step elements) listed below; click the + signs for more detailed information.
Step Elements
Scoring Rationale
Loblaw uses MSC and ASC certifications to inform its purchasing decisions.
- 0% No sustainabilty criteria used to inform purchasing decisions (or no information available)
- 100% Sustainability criteria used to inform purchasing decisions
- Scoring Rubric
Scoring Rationale
Loblaw’s Corporate Social Responsibility report for 2015 (page 13) states that Loblaw Companies reached 94% compliance on its commitment (unit sales; does not include sales from Arz, T&T Supermarkets, Real Canadian Wholesale Club, franchised stores or Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix stores). Loblaw confirmed that progress against its commitment has continued to increase as all new products introduced have been in line with its commitment and it is continuing to collect information on performance against its commitment (personal communication, J. Lambert, 13/03/2018).
- 0% Retailer did not demonstrate how much of their seafood sold meets their sustainability commitment (or no information available)
- 25% Retailer can demonstrate that 25% or more of their seafood products sold meets their sustainability commitment
- 50% Retailer can demonstrate that 50% or more of their seafood products sold meets their sustainability commitment
- 75% Retailer can demonstrate that 75% or more of their seafood products sold meets their sustainability commitment
- 100% Retailer can demonstrate that 100% of their seafood products sold meets their sustainability commitment
- Scoring Rubric
Scoring Rationale
Loblaw monitors and evaluates all offshore factories from which it imports using the Workplace Conditions Assessment (WCA) standard and its Supplier Code. The WCA audits assess labour conditions, wages, hours of work, health and safety, and the conditions of workplace environment. Furthermore, Loblaw’s have a team of audit compliance personnel covering six developing-nations including Bangladesh, Thailand, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and India. Suppliers that do not conform to both the WCA and Loblaw standards regarding child and forced labour are subject to immediate suspension of orders and possible termination of the relationship.
- 0% Retailer does not work with suppliers on social issues (or no information)
- 50% Retailer does some work with some suppliers on some social issues
- 100% Retailer is very active with suppliers in respect to social issues
- Scoring Rubric
Step 4: Is the retailer transparent about their commitment?
Overall Step Score
Is the retailer making information regarding the environmental and social performance of their seafood products publicly available and are they reporting on progress against their sustainable seafood commitment?
The step score is based on the average of Step 4 key performance indicators (step elements) listed below; click the + signs for more detailed information.
Step Elements
Scoring Rationale
In addition to the legally-required common name, all of Loblaw’s private label (e.g. own-brand) seafood products are labelled with country of harvest and whether the product is wild or farmed, and its fresh-frozen products are labelled with whether the product is wild or farmed (personal communication, J. Lambert, 13/03/2018).
- Species Latin name (the what)
- Country of origin (the where)
- Wild or farmed (the how part 1)
- Gear type or farming methods (the how part 2)
- 0% Retailer does not label products with the information (or no information)
- 50% Retailer labels some products with the information
- 100% Retailer labels all products with the information
- Scoring Rubric
Scoring Rationale
Loblaw’s private label and fresh-frozen products include the ASC and MSC eco-labels, as appropriate.
- 0% Retailer does not label seafood with applicable eco-labels (or no information)
- 100% Retailer labels seafood with eco-labels as applicable
- Scoring Rubric
Scoring Rationale
Loblaw does not disclose this information.
- 0% No product procurement information has been made available (or no information)
- 50% Some seafood product procurement information (such as region and gear types) has been made available
- 100% All seafood product procurement information (including region and gear types) has been made available
- Scoring Rubric
Scoring Rationale
Loblaw’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) report for 2015 (page 13) stated that by the end of 2015, 94% of its seafood procurement was in line with its commitment (unit sales; does not include sales from Arz, T&T Supermarkets, Real Canadian Wholesale Club, franchised stores or Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix stores), however the CSR reports for 2016 and 2017 have not included updates on progress against its seafood commitment.
- 0% No public information on how the retailer is doing to meet their commitment
- 50% Retailer has at one point in the past reported publicly how much of their seafood sold meets their commitment by volume/value
- 100% Retailer regularly (at least every two years) reports publicly how much of their seafood sold meets their commitment by volume/value
- Scoring Rubric
Step 5: Does the retailer educate staff, customers and/or vendors about the importance of their commitment to sustainable seafood?
Overall Step Score
Is the retailer educating their employees, customers, suppliers and other key stakeholders about their sustainable seafood commitment, environmental and social issues in seafood, and the importance of traceability?
The step score is based on the average of Step 5 key performance indicators (step elements) listed below; click the + signs for more detailed information.
Step Elements
Scoring Rationale
Regular training is conducted for Loblaw’s seafood staff as per the MSC and ASC chain of custody requirements (personal communication, J. Lambert, 13/03/2018).
- 0% Training programs not conducted for seafood staff (or no information)
- 50% Training programs are sometimes conducted, or are available only for some seafood staff
- 75% Training programs are conducted for all seafood staff, but infrequently (less than every two years)
- 100% Training programs are regularly (at least every two years) conducted for all seafood staff
- Scoring Rubric
Scoring Rationale
There is some description of Loblaw’s seafood program in store (personal communication, J. Lambert, 13/03/2018).
- 0% There is no description of the sustainable seafood program in store (or no information)
- 50% This is some description of the sustainable seafood program in store
- 100% There is a comprehensive description of the sustainable seafood program in store
- Scoring Rubric
Scoring Rationale
All suppliers are required to sign a company-wide Code of Conduct and this is supported by product-specific Codes of Conduct (personal communication, J. Lambert, 13/03/2018).
- 0% Suppliers do not have to sign a Code of Conduct in relation to the retailer's seafood policy (or no information)
- 25% Some suppliers are required to sign a Code of Conduct that covers some of the retailer's seafood policy
- 50% All suppliers must sign a Code of Conduct that covers some of the retailer's seafood policy
- 75% Major suppliers must sign a Code of Conduct that covers all of the retailer's seafood policy
- 100% All suppliers must sign a Code of Conduct that covers all of the retailer's seafood policy
- Scoring Rubric
Step 6: Does the retailer support improvements in fisheries and aquaculture?
Overall Step Score
Does the retailer sell ‘Priority Seafood’ products (products that have high volume of sales in Canadian retail stores and are generally not recommended by the Ocean Wise Seafood Program) or SeaChoice Priority Species (species that enter the supply chain via Canadian fisheries and aquaculture operations with significant sustainability challenges). And if so, do they support improvement and how?
The step score is based on the average of Step 6 key performance indicators (step elements) listed below; click the + signs for more detailed information.
Step Elements
Scoring Rationale
Loblaw works closely with the ASC and BAP certification standards on development and supply chain expansion. It aims to source its farmed salmon from closed containment or organic certified open water net pens. Loblaw preferentially sources ASC certified salmon and if this is unavailable then it will source BAP or organic certified products (personal communication, J. Lambert, 13/03/2018).
- Doesn't sell product (100 pts)
- Outreach to policymakers to advocate for farming methods and management to be more environmentally sustainable.
- Is taking action either pre-competitively or independently to influence suppliers or producers to improve farming practices
- Refrains from advertising the product
- Preferentially sources from farms that are either "Recommended" by Ocean Wise or "Best Choice" by Seafod Watch
- Preferentially sources from farms that are ASC certified
- 0% Sells the product and does not support improvements by doing any of the actions listed or no information available
- 20% Retailer is engaged in one action to support improvement
- 40% Retailer is engaged in two actions to support improvement
- 60% Retailer is engaged in three actions to support improvement
- 80% Retailer is engaged in four actions to support improvement
- 100% Retailer is engaged in all improvement activities or doesn't sell the product
- Scoring Rubric
Scoring Rationale
Loblaw worked with the ASC and BAP certification standards on development and are now working on supply chain expansion. It preferentially sources ASC certified shrimp and prawns (which are also recommended by Ocean Wise) when available but note that currently there is a limited supply. When ASC certified products are not available, Loblaw will source shrimp and prawn that are at least BAP 2-star certified (personal communication, J. Lambert, 13/03/2018).
- Doesn't sell product (100 pts)
- Outreach to policymakers to advocate for farming methods and management to be more environmentally sustainable.
- Is taking action either pre-competitively or independently to influence suppliers or producers to improve farming practices
- Refrains from advertising the product
- Preferentially sources from farms that are either "Recommended" by Ocean Wise or "Best Choice" by Seafod Watch
- Preferentially sources from farms that are ASC certified
- 0% Retailer sells the product and does not support improvements by doing any of the actions listed or no information available
- 20% Retailer is engaged in one action to support improvement
- 40% Retailer is engaged in two actions to support improvement
- 60% Retailer is engaged in three actions to support improvement
- 80% Retailer is engaged in four actions to support improvement
- 100% Retailer is engaged in all support improvement activities or doesn't sell the product
- Scoring Rubric
Scoring Rationale
While Loblaw prefers to source MSC certified skipjack tuna, availability and cost are common barriers. To try to address this, Loblaw has been working with suppliers to try and decrease the price point and increase availability (personal communication, J. Lambert, 13/03/2018).
- Doesn't sell product (100 pts)
- Outreach to policymakers to advocate for harvest methods and management to be more environmentally sustainable.
- Is taking action either pre-competitively or independently to influence suppliers or producers to improve fishing practices
- Refrains from advertising the product
- Preferentially sources from fisheries that are either "Recommended" by Ocean Wise or "Best Choice" by Seafod Watch
- Preferentially sources from fisheries that are MSC certified
- 0% Retailer sells the product and does not support improvements by doing any of the actions listed or no information available
- 20% Retailer is engaged in one action to support improvement
- 40% Retailer is engaged in two actions to support improvement
- 60% Retailer is engaged in three actions to support improvement
- 80% Retailer is engaged in four actions to support improvement
- 100% Retailer is engaged in all support improvement activities or doesn't sell the product
- Scoring Rubric
Scoring Rationale
Loblaw’s highest selling SeaChoice Priority Species is Atlantic cod, and it preferentially sources MSC certified Icelandic and Norwegian Atlantic cod from fisheries that are recommended by Ocean Wise and rated ‘Best Choice’ by Seafood Watch (personal communication, J. Lambert, 13/03/2018).
- Outreach to policymakers to advocate for harvest or farming methods and management to be more environmentally sustainable.
- Is taking action either pre-competitively or independently to influence suppliers or producers to improve fishing/farming practices
- Refrains from advertising the product
- Preferentially sources from fisheries that are either "Recommended" by Ocean Wise or rank as a "Best Choice" (Green) by Seafood Watch
- Preferentially sources from fisheries that are MSC/ASC certified
- 0% Retailer sells the product and does not support improvements by doing any of the actions listed or no information available
- 20% Retailer is engaged in one action to support improvement
- 40% Retailer is engaged in two actions to support improvement
- 60% Retailer is engaged in three actions to support improvement
- 80% Retailer is engaged in four actions to support improvement
- 100% Retailer is engaged in all support improvement activities
- Scoring Rubric
Scoring Rationale
Loblaw’s second highest selling SeaChoice Priority Species is Atlantic mackerel and it preferentially sources MSC certified Atlantic mackerel that is recommended by Ocean Wise and rated a ‘Best Choice’ by Seafood Watch (personal communication, J. Lambert, 13/03/2018).
- 0% Retailer sells the product and does not support improvements by doing any of the actions listed or no information available
- 20% Retailer is engaged in one action to support improvement
- 40% Retailer is engaged in two actions to support improvement
- 60% Retailer is engaged in three actions to support improvement
- 80% Retailer is engaged in four actions to support improvement
- 100% Retailer is engaged in all support improvement activities
- Scoring Rubric
Loblaw
Location
Across Canada
Number of Stores
Almost 2,500
Gross Revenue
$45.4 billion (2015)
Sustainable Seafood Policy
Seafood Sourcing Statement (updated Fall 2018)
