In a strategic move towards enhancing its sustainability initiatives, UK retailer Tesco has announced its plans to implement the Seafood Carbon Emissions Profiling Tool (SCEPT) across its comprehensive seafood supply chain and product offerings. This initiative represents a “significant step” in Tesco’s broader ambitions to achieve net-zero emissions across its entire value chain by the year 2050.
Tesco firmly believes that the SCEPT, which has been developed by Seafish—the authoritative public body dedicated to supporting the UK seafood industry—will play a pivotal role in realizing these sustainability goals. The SCEPT is designed to assist businesses in generating accurate carbon footprints for both wild capture and aquaculture seafood products. By using this tool, organizations can identify emissions hotspots or risks within their supply chains, gaining valuable insights that drive meaningful improvements.
Webinar Highlights the Functionality of SCEPT
In order to elucidate the implications of implementing SCEPT across its supply chain, Tesco recently hosted a comprehensive webinar. During this session, participants learned about the kind of data required, how to input this information effectively, and the various applications of the tool.
Dr. Stuart McLanaghan, the head of responsible sourcing at Seafish, led the discussion and provided an in-depth walkthrough of the tool’s functionalities. He expressed admiration for Tesco’s commitment to rolling out SCEPT, stating, “We commend Tesco’s commitment to implement the SCEPT across its seafood supply chain and are delighted some of its suppliers are already seeing the benefits of this user-friendly, industry-facing resource.”
Furthermore, he emphasized that “the tool’s integration across UK seafood supply chains is also crucial for generating high-quality, industry-averaged datasets for benchmarking and subsequent public disclosure purposes.” This data is invaluable for both Tesco and its suppliers, as it fosters transparency in sustainability efforts.
Tesco has established a strong track record in driving sustainability within its operations. Notably, its 100 largest suppliers have already achieved an impressive 20% reduction in manufacturing emissions. This demonstrates Tesco’s proactive approach in addressing environmental concerns.
Natalie Smith, the head of sustainable agriculture and fisheries at Tesco, reaffirmed this responsibility, stating, “We recognise the responsibility we have to support our seafood suppliers in reducing their carbon footprint, in line with our collective net-zero commitments.” She elaborated on the significance of having accurate primary data, emphasizing how it enables informed decision-making throughout the sustainability journey.
Given that emissions from Tesco’s products and supply chains account for over 90% of the company’s total carbon footprint, the commitment to implementing the SCEPT marks a critical step towards reducing its environmental impact.
Scott Johnston, technical director at Sofina Foods Europe and an early adopter of the SCEPT tool, shared his enthusiasm for the initiative. He stated, “Together with other Seafood Grimsby and Humber Alliance members, we are delighted to have helped develop the SCEPT to ensure it is able to meet our business needs.”
Johnston added, “Sofina has been active in using the tool to inform its seafood supply chain operations which is providing valuable insights on key focus areas for decarbonisation. We are excited to be working with the major UK retailers including Tesco and our seafood supply chain to use the tool to support accurate carbon baselining and transformational steps towards shared climate goals.”