Giant Eagle implements comprehensive ethical canned tuna policy

Pittsburgh-based Giant Eagle Inc. announced that it implemented a comprehensive ethical canned tuna procurement policy, highlighted by the development of the company’s own-brand canned tuna program. By June, the company will source its own-brand canned tuna only from healthy, well-managed stocks in fisheries using the most current environmentally and socially responsible methods for harvesting and bycatch reduction.

"Responsible, sustainable fishing practices have long been a top priority for Giant Eagle and our customers,” said Richard Castle, director of seafood, Giant Eagle. "Realizing the profound importance of maintaining the long-term biodiversity of our planet’s oceans and waterways, we are proud to bring this extensive procurement policy to life with our own brand canned tuna program."

Giant Eagle said it partnered with the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) in an effort to ensure that it is sourcing its own-brand canned tuna only from supply chains that are socially responsible at every point in the seafood chain, from safe and fair working conditions to equitable fishing agreements. Through the partnership with SFP, Giant Eagle will have access to key information — including location of harvest, type of gear used and fishery certification — about source fisheries to better understand the sustainability of specific products.  Giant Eagle also works with the Global Aquaculture Alliance and supports many Fishery Improvement Projects in an effort to minimize environmental impact and promote long-term sustainability across the industry.

“The expertise of the SFP and other industry partners has helped us greatly to ensure that our policy is as comprehensive as possible,” Castle said. “We believe that this is truly a benchmark in sustainability, and look forward to sharing best practices with our vendors, suppliers and other retailers in hopes of helping the industry become more ecologically responsible.”

Additionally, Giant Eagle said it will work to ensure that its product labels clearly identify sustainability efforts, making it easier for customers to identify the most sustainably sourced products.