Business Sustainability: BJ’s Wholesale Club Commits to Offering Sustainable Seafood
BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc. announced commitment to members and the environment by implementing a new sustainable seafood policy ensuring all seafood products sold in BJ’s Wholesale Clubs are sourced from seafood suppliers identified as sustainable or on track to meet sustainability standards by 2014.
In partnership with leading non-profit organizations including Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP), the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA), the company is taking measurable steps to safeguard the ocean’s natural resources while continuing to provide consumers the highest quality fish and seafood available.
To reach this goal, BJ’s is working with new and existing suppliers to find and assist in implementing methods that protect aquatic species and habitats. The company’s new seafood guideline for wild-caught fish ensures fish are caught legally and that suppliers remain within their catch quotas. Additionally, the guidelines encourage fisheries and suppliers to use up-to-date technology that makes harvesting less destructive to other aquatic species, such as dolphins and turtles, and less damaging to ocean habitats, including coral reefs.
For farmed fish, suppliers must limit the use of chemicals, provide fish plenty of room to swim and implement safeguards that prevent farmed fish from escaping or affecting wild fish. All BJ’s seafood partners from fresh fish to frozen “value-added fish,” including fish sticks and breaded/seasoned fillets, must take steps to source seafood in accordance with BJ’s guidelines.
“Our goal is to continue to provide safe, quality seafood at an excellent value for years to come and without compromise,” said Scott Williams Manager of Product Development and Quality Assurance for BJ’s Wholesale Club. “As a large volume buyer of seafood, it is BJ’s responsibility to help protect the oceans and waterways and have a minimal impact on the long-term health of our ecosystems.”
Continue reading about BJ’s long term plans and commitments on CSRwire.
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