Safeway most sustainable seafood grocer in U.S.: Greenpeace

Safeway Inc. was ranked the No.1 sustainable national grocery retailer in the U.S. for seafood in the fifth edition of the Greenpeace retailer scorecard, which ranks the top 20 grocery retailers on the sustainability of their seafood practices.

The “Carting Away the Oceans” report and scorecard rates retailers’ existing seafood policies, initiatives, product labelling/dissemination of information about products, and practices surrounding the sale of certain unsustainable or “red list” species.

“This ranking reflects our commitment and responsibility to be a steward of our natural resources,” said Phil Gibson, group director of seafood at Safeway. “We strive to be a leader in the area of seafood sustainability and know that much remains to be done. We hope that the entire industry continues on this important path to ensuring that both the world’s oceans and the seafood industry thrive.”

By 2015, all Safeway fresh and frozen seafood will come from sustainable and traceable sources, or be in a credible improvement project to meet the goal. Safeway has partnered with FishWise, a a non-profit that works with companies throughout the seafood supply chain to support environmentally responsible business practices. In Canada, the company is now working with SeaChoice, Canada’s national program for sustainable seafood developed by the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, the David Suzuki Foundation, Ecology Action Center, Living Oceans Society and Sierra Club British Columbia.

Safeway also has a Sustainable Seafood Task Force, which assesses the company’s entire supply chain, and established priorities for vendors and its own operations.

Others getting a passing grade in order of ranking from Greenpeace included Target (2010 winner), Wegmans (2009 winner), Whole Foods (2008 winner), Ahold, Harris Teeter, Aldi, A&P, Price Chopper, Delhaize, Costco, Trader Joe's, Wal-Mart, H.E. Butt and Kroger.