Publix Launches Sustainable Seafood Campaign

Publix wants to make sure its customers know which products have met rigorous sustainability standards and are putting forth a new product labeling system to help.

With new, color-coded labels—blue for “Sustainably Sourced” and green for “Responsibly Sourced”—Publix customers will now be able to select seafood products that meet the rigorous sustainability standards of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) and the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI).

Both organization’s standards take into account such issues as a fishery’s stock as well as the types of fishing gear used to measure the impact on other plant or animal life. Although the labeling system constitutes a new effort to inform customers, Publix says that its commitment to sustainable seafood is not new. Publix is one of many major grocery retailers that have answered the growing demand for sustainable or responsibly sourced seafood. 

In 2017, Publix was recognized as the first U.S. supermarket retailer to participate in the Ocean Disclosure Project, an organization which promotes supply chain transparency. Since 2009, the Lakeland, Fla.-based retailer has worked in collaboration with SFP in its efforts to help nine struggling fisheries become more sustainable by sponsoring Fishery Improvement Projects. 

Publix also hosts an annual Sustainability Summit, convening all their seafood suppliers to discuss sustainability, and is leading retailers with their support of Target 75, an initiative that aims to get 75% of world seafood production in key sectors sustainable or actively working toward sustainability.