Page 40 - FoodFocusThailand No.238 January-February 2026

SPECIAL
SPECIAL FOCUS FOCUS
SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD SUPPLY CHAIN

MANAGEMENT UNDER

THE SEACHANGE® 2030 STRATEGY

Over the past decade, “sustainable food systems” have become a critical global priority, particularly within the
seafood industry, which is inherently dependent on natural resources. The sector is increasingly challenged by
climate change, the depletion of marine resources, heightened consumer expectations for transparency, and
the tightening of sustainability-related regulations. These factors collectively require businesses to reassess
their roles, responsibilities, and impacts across the entire food supply chain in a more comprehensive and
systematic manner.

As a global leader in the seafood industry, Thai tuna resource management enables
Union Group continues to advance its business under the company to utilize almost the entire
the SeaChange® 2030 sustainability strategy, aimed raw material. The primary tuna meat is
at accelerating the transition toward a balanced food processed into food products for human
system across the entire value chain. The strategy consumption, while other parts are
integrates social and environmental dimensions through valorized into a wide range of value-added
11 core commitments, linking operations from upstream products, such as pet food, aquafeed,
to downstream. calcium, and collagen.
Mr. Prad Kerdpairoj, Director of Sustainability, Asia
at Thai Union Group PCL, emphasizes that sustainability Downstream: Traceability as the
should not be viewed merely as a CSR activity, but must be Backbone of Transparency
embedded at the core of business strategy. When integrated One of Thai Union’s strongest sustainability
effectively, sustainability becomes a key driver of resilience, pillars is seafood traceability, described as
risk mitigation, and long-term competitiveness. the “backbone of sustainability.” Today,
100% of the company’s tuna is traceable
Upstream: Responsible Fisheries and back to the fishing vessel, supported by
Aquaculture Sourcing advanced digital traceability systems that
Building a truly sustainable seafood supply chain must enhance accuracy, transparency, and
begin upstream—at the source of raw materials. Thai Union, accountability throughout the supply chain.
therefore, prioritizes close collaboration with responsible Product development also focuses on
fisheries and aquaculture partners. delivering nutritional value aligned with World Health Organization
In fisheries, the company maintains a clear policy of zero (WHO) guidelines, ensuring long-term health benefits for
tolerance for Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) consumers.
fishing, which poses serious threats to marine resources Packaging remains another critical sustainability challenge.
and ecosystems. Under the Tuna Commitment 2025, Thai While canned packaging is already fully recyclable, certain
Union aims to source all tuna raw materials from fisheries formats—such as plastic pouches for frozen and retort foods—
certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) or, still present limitations. Thai Union has established the Global
at a minimum, from fisheries participating in Fishery Innovation Center (GIC) to test and develop alternative packaging
Improvement Projects (FIPs) that are progressing toward solutions that better align with sustainability goals.
internationally recognized sustainability standards.
Equally important is the protection of labor rights on Challenges in Advancing a Sustainable Seafood
fishing vessels. Thai Union enforces a strict Vessel Code System
of Conduct, ensuring no forced or child labor, appropriate According to Mr. Prad, a key challenge in driving sustainability is
working hours, and safe working conditions. aligning leadership and organizations to see sustainability not as
In aquaculture—particularly shrimp farming—the a cost burden, but as a strategic investment that reduces risk and
company targets farms certified to international standards strengthens long-term competitiveness. In addition, the seafood
such as BAP or ASC, or those participating in Aquaculture industry also faces complex global supply chains and constantly
Improvement Projects (AIPs). These initiatives support evolving international regulations and standards.
continuous improvement in environmental stewardship, Mr. Prad concluded by emphasizing that for SMEs transitioning
social responsibility, and production efficiency. toward a sustainable food system, the first step should be to
understand customer needs, stakeholder expectations, and the
Midstream: Processing with Zero Waste and regulatory requirements of destination markets. The journey toward
Circular Economy Principles sustainability does not need to be perfect from the outset; rather, it
In seafood processing, Thai Union focuses on maximizing should be a gradual process, focusing on priority issues that align
resource efficiency and minimizing waste through circular- with the specific context and capabilities of each business.
economy and zero-waste concepts, while reducing
environmental impacts such as water discharge and
greenhouse gas emissions, alongside strong labor
protection. A clear example is tuna processing, effective More Information Service Info C004
40 FOOD FOCUS THAILAND JAN-FEB 2026

12/1/2569 BE 12:41
38-43_Special Focus_��������.indd 40 12/1/2569 BE 12:41
38-43_Special Focus_��������.indd 40