Retailer Snapshot
Walmart Canada’s sustainable seafood commitment states that by 2025 (subject to “price, availability, quality, customer demand, and unique regulatory environments”) all of its seafood products will be from:
*Fisheries certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC),
*Farms certified by Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP), or
*Fisheries or farms that are participating in credible improvement projects and/or are working towards achieving certifications.
Tweet this retailer and let them know what you like – or don’t like – about their policy. For example:
Great to see so much detail on @WalmartCanada's sustainable seafood commitment - but how much of your sourcing is actually meeting it? Very important for #transparency and accountability to publish this info Click To TweetWalmart has an extensive and detailed Responsible Sourcing Program and suppliers throughout the supply chain are expected to adhere to its standards regarding the ethical treatment of workers, workplace safety, environmental responsibility and business practices.
Building on this good supply chain engagement, SeaChoice recommends that Walmart Canada works to improve the labelling of the seafood products its sells to include information like species’ scientific names and harvest method. SeaChoice also recommends that Walmart begins reporting on its progress towards meeting its sustainable seafood commitment. Including a description of Walmart’s sustainable seafood commitment in store and training staff on Walmart’s seafood policy would also help increase transparency and raise consumers’ awareness of these important issues.
In the process of developing this profile, SeaChoice corresponded with Walmart Canada’s sustainability lead and Walmart’s partner environmental NGO, Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP).
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
Walmart Canada’s sustainable seafood commitment is that by 2025, all suppliers of their fresh and frozen (farmed and wild) seafood products are sourced from fisheries or farms certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) or Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP), or by an equivalent program that follows FAO Guidelines and is recognized by the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative. Walmart is also committed to sourcing from fisheries or farms that are actively working towards certification, or fisheries or farms that are engaged in improvement projects that have definitive and ambitious goals, measurable metrics and time bound milestones. The achievement of this commitment is subject to “price, availability, quality, customer demand, and unique regulatory environments”.
- 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
Walmart suppliers are expected to comply with Walmart’s Standards for Suppliers and applicable Responsible Sourcing Program requirements. The Standards for Suppliers apply throughout the supply chain and set out Walmart’s expectations of suppliers and their facilities regarding the ethical treatment of workers, workplace safety, environmental responsibility and appropriate business practices.
- 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
Walmart’s goal is to “build transparency and continuous improvement in the seafood supply chain” so it is “working with [its] suppliers and partners to track the management of fisheries from which [its] suppliers source”.
- 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
Walmart collects species names (common and Latin) for all of its seafood products (personal communication, S. Grimley, SFP, 22/05/2018).
- 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
Walmart collects country or region of catch for all of its seafood products (personal communication, S. Grimley, SFP, 22/05/2018).
- 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
Walmart collects information on whether its seafood products are from wild or farmed sources (personal communication, S. Grimley, SFP, 22/05/2018).
- 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
Walmart collects information on gear type for all its wild caught seafood, and will soon begin collecting data on farming methods for aquaculture products (personal communication, S. Grimley, SFP, 22/05/2018).
- 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
Walmart’s commitment for fresh and frozen seafood uses Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certifications for wild fisheries and Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) or Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certifications for aquaculture, or “certified by a program which follows the FAO Guidelines and is recognized by the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) as such”.
- 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
Walmart Canada does not disclose this information.
- 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
Walmart is active in trying to address the risk of human trafficking in the Thai seafood industry and helped establish the Seafood Task Force (Walmart now serves on its governing board).
- 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
Walmart labels its products with whether they are wild or farmed and the country of origin.
- 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
Walmart uses the MSC or BAP eco-labels for products that are certified as sustainable under those standards.
- 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
Walmart Canada does not currently 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
Walmart Canada does not disclose this information.
- 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
No information in commitment.
- 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
No information in commitment.
- 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
Walmart’s Supplier Code of Conduct seems to relate only to the human rights and employment aspects of Walmart’s commitment and not to the environmental aspects.
- 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
Walmart Canada is not currently engaged in any of these actions.
- 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
Walmart is a member of the Seafood Task Force and as such they collaborate with other companies pre-competitively to improve aquaculture practices and works with suppliers and producers directly to improve shrimp and prawn farming practices.
- 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
Walmart is committed to, by 2025, sourcing all canned light and white tuna from fisheries that are certified as sustainable by MSC or a program which follows FAO Guidelines on eco-labels and is recognized by the GSSI as such. Walmart preferentially sources from suppliers using better management fishing practices as validated through chain of custody (e.g. pole and line, free-school sets).
- 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
SeaChoice was unable to determine Walmart’s highest selling SeaChoice Priority Species.
- 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
SeaChoice was unable to determine Walmart’s second highest selling SeaChoice Priority Species.
- 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
Walmart Canada
Location
Throughout Canada (except for Nunavut)
Number of Stores
Over 400
Gross Revenue
Over $30 billion
Sustainable Seafood Policy
Walmart Canada’s Sustainable Seafood statement
Walmart’s more detailed Seafood Policy (scroll down)
