Mars Commits to Improving Seafood Supply Chain Transparency
Mars has become the world’s first petfood company to commit to meeting the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability Standard (GDST) standards, a business-to-business platform dedicated to setting guidelines for seafood traceability globally.
By joining the GDST, Mars reiterates its dedication to maintaining transparency and traceability in its seafood supply chains, improving sustainability practices and tackling illegal and unregulated fishing.
As a leading pet care products and services provider, Mars, Incorporated is driven by a belief in ensuring the world we want is dependent on how businesses act. To deliver on this, it works according to five principles: Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom.
A practise in sustainability
Mars has also partnered with Wholechain, a blockchain-based traceability solution and GDST Verified Capable provider, to establish thorough traceability across all its seafood supply chains.
By using Wholechain’s platform, Mars can guarantee responsible environmental and social sourcing across its entire supply chain from origin to finished product.
Wholechain’s platform allows producers to connect physical goods with digital records, collects and shares data and confirms responsible practices. It provides data-backed claims with product mapping and quality tracking.
Global Marine Sustainability Lead of Mars Petcare, Andrew Russell, says: “At Mars, we have been working for more than 15 years, in collaboration with WWF, to drive more responsible fish sourcing, and address the growing pressures on vulnerable ocean ecosystems.
“By joining the GDST, we are advancing our commitment to responsible sourcing and are proud to work with Wholechain to make meaningful strides in achieving end-to-end traceability across our seafood supply chains.”
Setting the standard for sustainability
Mars is the first petfood company worldwide to implement these digital traceability measures and the first to commit to meet the GDST standard.
By leading the way in capturing standardised data and using it to maintain a more transparent supply chain, Mars hopes to contribute to better standards for sustainable and responsible petfood supply.
“Mars’ commitment to adopting GDST standards and prioritising traceability is a powerful example of industry leadership,” said Jayson Berryhill, CEO of Wholechain.
“We are excited to work with Mars to turn their commitment into action, providing the technological support needed to deliver full visibility across their seafood supply chain.”
Turning commitment into action
By taking these actions, Mars joins a growing number of global businesses advancing product traceability and improving supply chain decision-making.
Joining the GDST will also help the business implement CSR policies, mitigate risk and improve business resilience.
Ensuring transparency and traceability of its supply chains means Mars can ensure high quality seafood that has been sourced using legal and regulated measures.
Moreover, it can track the journey of the product end-to-end, with the knowledge that their supply chain has not been disrupted.
GDST investors can already see the benefits of the standardised digital interoperable traceability that Mars has now implemented.
The GDST hopes that the dedication Mars shows, and the results it gains, will influence other companies, including non-seafood producers, to meet its standards.
Huw Thomas, Director of GDST, says: “Companies with supply chains including non-seafood commodities - such as palm, soy, beef, chicken - are already exploring utilisation of the GDST Standard in realising their digital interoperable traceability ambitions.
“The learnings Mars will be taking from implementing the GDST Standard for their seafood products across their non-seafood supply chains is anticipated to help to drive wider adoption of the GDST Standard across multiple markets, delivering industry-wide improvements in traceability and accountability.”
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