Compass to Buy Sustainable Seafood

Compass Group USA has announced it will shift its purchases away from threatened fish species and toward sustainably sourced supplies.The new policy will impact approximately one million pounds of fish purchased annually by the company.

Under the policy, to begin implementation on March 1, Compass will replace Atlantic cod, a species which leading conservationists have recommended that consumers avoid, with more plentifullyavailable Pacific cod, pollock and other alternatives. Compass says it will also seek ways to decrease its use of shrimp and salmon that are farmed in an "unsustainable" manner and that it will eliminate all other 'Avoid' species that are on the Monterey Bay Aquarium's "Seafood Watch" list, increasing its use of so-called 'Best Choices' varieties.

"Compass is proud to embrace a sustainable seafood policy that will support the health of our oceans," says Gary Green, CEO of Compass's Americas Division."When we learned about the significant impact our purchasing shift could make, it was clear this was the right thing to do."

Implementation of Compass' sustainable program will take three years and includes development of purchasing standards, internal compliance mechanisms and chef training. It will be managed by the Packard Foundation-funded "Making Waves Project," a non-profit partnership between the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch Program and Bon Appetit Management Company Foundation.