Ninety per cent of Iglo Group’s wild capture fish portfolio in Europe is now MSC certified, with many country market brands planning to reach 100% by the end of 2015. The MSC ecolabel will initially be rolled out on 280 products, rising to 400 within a year, in 16 countries across Europe, including the UK, Germany, Italy, Austria, France, Russia, Belgium and the Netherlands.
High demand for sustainably caught seafood
This commitment is being driven by high demand for sustainably caught seafood and a growing recognition of the MSC ecolabel. 89% of seafood shoppers across Europe believe that ocean sustainability is important with 38% recognising the blue MSC ecolabel (an increase of 10% since 2010).
Elio Leoni Sceti, CEO of Iglo Group, said: “This commitment will provide reassurance to the millions of consumers who buy our brands across Europe, including Birds Eye in the UK and Ireland, iglo across continental Europe and for the first time, Findus in Italy. In 2015 alone we expect that over 2.45 billion MSC certified Fish Fingers will be eaten by European consumers and they can rest assured that the choices they make are sustainable ones.”
MSC ecolabel joins Iglo Group's Green Captain
The MSC ecolabel will join Iglo Group’s iconic Green Captain, the company’s new sustainability champion, on pack. The Green Captain is a symbol of Iglo Group’s Forever Food Together CSR programme which is an integral part of the company’s strategy to responsibly source and prepare 100% of all food products by 2020.
Both the MSC ecolabel and Green Captain will signal that the fish that Iglo Group consumers are purchasing can be traced back to fisheries which comply with the world’s most credible standard for certifying responsibly, well managed fisheries that have a healthier and more sustainable future.
Iglo helping to drive real and lasting changes on the water
At the recent launch of Iglo Group’s Forever Food Together programme, Rupert Howes, Chief Executive of the Marine Stewardship Council congratulated Iglo Group on its bold and holistic commitment to sustainability.
He said: “By sourcing seafood from independently assessed sustainable fisheries, Iglo rewards top performing fisheries around the world that are working hard to ensure our oceans remain healthy and abundant. This commitment recognises best practice and helps to drive very real and lasting changes to the way our oceans are fished. This is an exciting commitment, not only because it means greater access across Europe to certified sustainable seafood, but also because millions more consumers will now have the opportunity to purchase frozen seafood products which carry the MSC ecolabel as an added assurance of sustainability.”
Long standing commitment to sustainable fisheries development
Peter Hajipieris, Director for Corporate Social Responsibility at Iglo Group, said: “As a founder member of the MSC nearly two decades ago with WWF, Iglo has had a long standing commitment to drive sustainable fisheries development. The MSC Standard offers a robust and credible assessment of our key fisheries and is an independent certification measure within our Forever Food Together programme. We want to thank all our fisheries industry stakeholders and suppliers for helping us reach this level of responsible sourcing.”
You can read more about Iglo’s commitment to Sustainable Fisheries Development here.
