Mars Petcare has announced that it now sources 96% of fish for its pet food recipes from sustainable sources, up from 81% last year.
The company has a longstanding goal to sustainably source 100% of the fish used in its pet foods, and has achieved this target for its products sold in Europe. It maintains that it does not source endangered fish species, as defined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Mars has also partnered with WWF in shifting towards compliance to the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) as part of increasing seafood transparency and harmonization of different traceability standards.
Mars Petcare chief procurement officer Paul Gardner said: “We’re proud that our procurement teams are sourcing more sustainably sourced fish – this work delivers on our commitments and benefits the planet and its pets. We will continue to strengthen our efforts and invest in sustainable fisheries together with our partner WWF in the years to come.”
Michael Griff, director for ocean markets at World Wildlife Fund, added: “Mars has been instrumental in the seafood sustainability movement as one of the first WWF partners to commit to more sustainable pet food supply chain. We will continue to work together to reduce pressure on our oceans and preserve its resources for resilient ecosystems and prosperous coastal communities.”
