Triggered by the French “Grennel de l’Environment”, the mussel sector was quick to react in taking the opportunity to communicate on the environmental production advantages that lay in mussel farming.
A Spanish study has demonstrated that mussels grown on the rafts “Bateas” have a carbon foot print balance of 400g of CO2 per kg.
The rope mussel producer and packer Medithau, based on the French Mediterranean coast has calculated its carbon foot print as 1kg of CO2 per kg of product packed.
Their calculation included their own production but also their imports. Transport obviously was the main contributor accounting for 60 per cent of the carbon emission.
Mytilimer, bourchot mussel producer/packer recently obtained an eco label certification from Friends of the Sea, initially this eco label was targeted at Swiss customers but it appears that there is growing interest and recognition among French retail customers.
This certification was granted under the condition that Mytilimer would complete its carbon footprint assessment within the 12 months following the accreditation; the cost of this study will amount to €5,600.
The friends of the Sea certification costs €3,000 per year, the rights of use of the logo are fixed and do not vary by reference in contrary to MSC. Other bivalves certified by Friends of the Sea are: Spanish mussels, Tasmania mussels, Chilean mussels, Peruvian scallops, farmed Spanish cockles.
The French specialised mussel restaurant chain Leon de Bruxelles, has followed the trend in reducing its carbon footprint. Their mussels served with fries and beer, which is representative of the Leon de Bruxelles image, only account for 17 per cent of the global carbon footprint of the restaurant chain.
French Mussel Sector Investigates Carbon Footprint
FRANCE - Several initiatives have been undertaken by the French mussel sector to demonstrate their low carbon footprint, according to Nicolas Ranninger from Bord Bia Paris.
