Retailer Snapshot
Federated Co-operatives Limited’s (FCL) sustainable seafood commitment is that all of its fresh and frozen fish, seafood (national brand and ‘own brand’), and canned tuna be at least a ‘Good Alternative’ (Yellow ranked) as assessed by Seafood Watch (or equivalent), or be in a credible improvement project. FCL’s seafood suppliers must sign a Code of Conduct, which includes terms that they will not knowingly source any products that are associated with human rights violations and that they will provide at least the following information: scientific (Latin) name, whether the product is farmed or wild, the country of origin and fishery location, and whether the fishery or farm has an eco-certification.
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Today I learned through Seafood Progress how @CoopFCL has significantly reduced its sourcing of red-ranked seafood products. I wish there was more info about its sustainable seafood commitment in Co-op stores! #transparency Click To TweetFCL is committed to improving the traceability of its products and to carrying out periodic spot checks on its products using tools like genetic testing. In 2012, FCL reported that 45% of its fish and seafood was ranked ‘Avoid’ (Red) by Seafood Watch and by the end of 2016 this was reduced to 17%.
FCL is supporting improvements in the production of farmed salmon by preferentially sourcing more sustainable options like closed-containment, land-based coho salmon and farmed steelhead. SeaChoice recommends that FCL takes action to support improvement in the production/harvest of other SeaChoice Priority Species that it sources and publishes a description of its seafood commitment in its stores.
In the process of developing this profile, SeaChoice corresponded with Ed Dzik, Meat/Seafood Category and Operations Manager, and his team at Federated Co-operatives 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
Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) is committed to sourcing all fresh and frozen fish and seafood and canned tuna from sources that are ranked at least a ‘Good Alternative’ (Yellow) by Seafood Watch, or that are covered by an equivalent certification or are in a credible improvement project.
- 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
FCL’s seafood commitment recognises the need to uphold international standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human rights and the International Labor Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. Additionally, all suppliers must sign “an agreement that they will continue to uphold [FCL’s] policy, including providing accurate data and ensuring that fish and seafood is not knowingly sourced from businesses with human rights violations”.
- 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
FCL is committed to improving the traceability of its products (where possible) and to carrying out periodic spot checks on its products using tools like genetic testing. Suppliers to FCL are expected to include information on their products including (but not limited to) species’ scientific names, whether the product is farmed or wild, the country of origin and fishery location, and whether the fishery or farm has an eco-certification.
- 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
FCL collects information on the scientific (Latin) name of all fresh fish and seafood, all private label frozen and shelf stable fish and seafood, and some national brand fish and seafood products.
- Fresh fish and seafood
- Private label fish and seafood (frozen and shelf stable)
- National brand fish and seafood (frozen and shelf stable)
- 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
FCL collects information on the country of origin and fishery location of all fresh fish and seafood, all private label frozen and shelf stable fish and seafood, and some national brand fish and seafood products.
- Fresh fish and seafood
- Private label fish and seafood (frozen and shelf stable)
- National brand fish and seafood (frozen and shelf stable)
- 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
FCL collects information on whether product were farmed or wild-caught for all fresh fish and seafood, all private label frozen and shelf stable fish and seafood, and some national brand fish and seafood products.
- Fresh fish and seafood
- Private label fish and seafood (frozen and shelf stable)
- National brand fish and seafood (frozen and shelf stable)
- 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
FCL collects information on the gear type and farm production method for all fresh fish and seafood, all private label frozen and shelf stable fish and seafood, and some national brand fish and seafood products (personal communication, E. Dzik, 21/02/2018).
- Fresh fish and seafood
- Private label fish and seafood (frozen and shelf stable)
- National brand fish and seafood (frozen and shelf stable)
- 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
FCL uses ratings from the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program and the Ocean Wise Seafood Program, and certifications from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) to assess the sustainability of its seafood products.
- 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
FCL’s recently updated Seafood Policy reports that in 2016, 83% of its fish and seafood listings were assessed as “Best Choice’ or “Good Alternative” by Seafood Watch and that this has continued to increase. This assessment was confirmed to be by volume (personal communication, E. Dzik, 09/01/2018).
- 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
FCL is committed to working with suppliers and producers of products that currently don’t meet its certification/rating standards through Fishing Improvement Projects (FIPs) or Aquaculture Improvement Projects (AIPs). FCL also requires suppliers to sign an agreement to “not knowingly” source from businesses with human rights violations.
- 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
FCL labels some fresh seafood and all private label fresh and frozen seafood with species’ scientific (Latin) name and gear type or farming method (personal communication, E. Dzik, 09/01/2018).
- 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
FCL use eco-labels as appropriate at point of sale on pre-packaged fish and seafood products, although not on fresh or fresh packaged products because their stores do not have the required Chain of Custody certification.
- 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
FCL 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
FCL’s commitment includes working toward best practices for transparency by working with environmental NGO partners to publicly report on progress made toward their commitments.
FCL reported that in 2012, 45% of their fish and seafood was Red ranked by Seafood Watch, and in 2016 that was reduced to 17%. In 2016, FCL reported that 83% of products sold were Yellow or Green ranked. This was confirmed by FCL to be assessed by volume (personal communication, E. Dzik, 09/01/2018).
- 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
At least some FCL employees have already received training and FCL’s February 2018 Seafood Policy says all new staff will receive this, but SeaChoice could not clarify whether it will be a one-time training or conducted regularly.
- 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 no information on FCL’s Seafood Policy for customers in store.
- 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 have signed an agreement to uphold FCL’s traceability requirements and ensure that their fish and seafood products aren’t “knowingly sourced from sources with human rights violations”, however these are only two aspects of their Seafood Policy.
- 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
FCL is committed to continuing to influence improvements in the salmon farming industry and preferentially source farmed Atlantic salmon that is recommended by Ocean Wise (personal communication, E. Dzik, 21/02/2018), and also offers sustainable alternatives including farmed steelhead, sustainably harvested wild salmon and land-based farmed coho salmon.
- Doesn't sell product
- Refrains from advertising the product
- 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
- Preferentially sources from more sustainable sources that are either 'Recommended' by Ocean Wise or rated Best Choice (Green) by Seafood 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
FCL only sells farmed imported shrimp and prawn products that are certified by Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) as 2 star or above, but does not source Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certified products products because of their price point (personal communication, E. Dzik, 21/02/2018).
- Doesn't sell product or only sells products that are "Recommended" by Ocean Wise or ranked "Best Choice" (Green) by Seafood Watch (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 rank as a "Best Choice" (Green) by Seafood 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
FCL is not taking any Support Improvement actions on skipjack tuna at this time (personal communication, E. Dzik, 21/02/2018).
- Doesn't sell product or only sells products that are "Recommended" by Ocean Wise or ranked "Best Choice" (Green) by Seafood Watch (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 rank as a "Best Choice" (Green) by Seafood 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
FCL’s highest selling SeaChoice Priority Species is BC rockfish and it preferentially sources Yellowtail rockfish (Sebastes flavidus). To ensure it gets Yellowtail and not similar rockfish species, FCL requires its suppliers to establish a separate chain of custody for Yellowtail so it can be confident of the sustainability of the rockfish it sells (personal communication, E. Dzik, 21/02/2018).
- 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
- Refrains from advertising the product
- Preferentially sources from fisheries that are either "Recommended" by Ocean Wise or rank as a "Best Choice" by Seafood 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
- Scoring Rubric
Scoring Rationale
FCL’s second-highest selling SeaChoice Priority Species are Manitoba lakefish, and it is supporting producers of this product to improve the sustainability of their operations (personal communication, E. Dzik, 21/02/2018).
- 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
- Refrains from advertising the product
- Preferentially sources from fisheries that are either "Recommended" by Ocean Wise or rank as a "Best Choice" by Seafood 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
- Scoring Rubric
Federated Co-operatives Limited
Location
British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba
Number of Stores
270
Gross Revenue
$9.8 billion (2017)
Sustainable Seafood Policy
