Waitrose Implements Seafood Carbon Emissions Profiling Tool to Reach Net-Zero Targets
UK retailer reinforces its commitment to net-zero emissions targets.
Waitrose is taking a significant step forward by rolling out the Seafood Carbon Emissions Profiling Tool (SCEPT) across its seafood supply chain. This initiative aims to measure and reduce carbon emissions, further solidifying the retailer’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
A Collaborative Launch
The announcement comes on the heels of a collaborative webinar hosted by Seafish, the public body dedicated to supporting the UK seafood industry. During the session, Waitrose introduced the SCEPT to its seafood suppliers, showcasing user benefits and how suppliers can leverage the tool to enhance their sustainability practices.
Understanding the Seafood Carbon Emissions Profiling Tool
Developed by Seafish and launched in May 2024, the SCEPT is an innovative online platform designed for seafood businesses. It enables users to generate comprehensive carbon footprints for both wild-capture and aquaculture products by simply inputting supply chain data, including factors such as fuel consumption, processing, packaging, and transportation.
Benefits of the SCEPT
The software analyzes the data input by seafood businesses, providing insights that help identify areas where emissions are particularly high. Additionally, it allows for benchmarking against industry averages, tracking progress towards emission reduction targets, and ensuring more accurate and transparent carbon reporting.
Commitment from Waitrose
Ben Lambden, Partner & Manager of Fisheries and Aquaculture at Waitrose, stated:
“At Waitrose, we’re committed to sourcing seafood responsibly while minimizing the ecological impact of our supply chains. By adopting SCEPT, we will collaborate with our seafood suppliers to pinpoint carbon hotspots and make impactful reductions. We were thrilled to see robust participation from our seafood supply chain during the webinar and are encouraged by the positive feedback on our plans.”
Aligning with Net-Zero Goals
Waitrose’s parent company, The John Lewis Partnership, has pledged to achieve net-zero emissions across its operations by 2035 and across its entire supply chain by 2050. The SCEPT’s integration into their seafood supply chain is critical to realizing these ambitious goals. Notably, fellow retailer Tesco has already implemented the tool, indicating a growing trend toward industry-wide adoption of sustainable practices in the UK seafood sector.
Support from the Industry
Dr. Stuart McLanaghan, Head of Responsible Sourcing at Seafish and leader in the development of SCEPT, welcomed Waitrose’s commitment:
“It’s fantastic to see Waitrose adopting the SCEPT. Their involvement will bolster the integration of the tool across the UK seafood sector. We are also collaborating with other leading retailers, helping them implement the tool effectively. Our goal is to maintain SCEPT at the forefront of scientific advancements to meet industry needs.”
Wider Industry Impact
Blonk Milieu Advies B.V., an esteemed expert in food system sustainability, was commissioned to design the SCEPT. Currently, 125 seafood businesses, including two-thirds of the UK’s chilled and frozen seafood processing sector by volume, are utilizing this essential tool.
For more details about the SCEPT, please visit Assessing the carbon footprint of seafood | Seafish.
