As the market leader, our brand Rio Mare feels a responsibility to lead sustainable development within the sector and adopt a cutting-edge sustainability model that takes into account every aspect of the supply chain. Sustainability is an ongoing commitment for Bolton Group and Rio Mare is now the first seafood brand in the world to obtain the EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) certification from leading international certification body DNV.

The product life cycle analysis (LCA) involves quantifying resource consumption (materials, water, energy) and environmental impact, from fishing through to distribution. The study will enable Rio Mare to optimise its production processes and reduce costs and waste within the company by monitoring the improvement of the environmental performance of its products and implementing a system designed to ensure the ongoing optimisation of the environmental impact of its products.

The data also enabled Rio Mare to compare the impact of tuna with other products, revealing that canned tuna has an environmental impact comparable to that of fresh cheese or pulses, based on the same calorie intake. The impact of the product is in line with that of cereals and their derivatives and comes in lower than vegetables, meat and dairy products.

“Through choices and actions, we want to continue to offer tangible evidence of our commitment to sustainable growth and environmental protection,” said Luciano Pirovano, Global Sustainable Development Director of our Food Business Unit. “We are very proud to have incorporated this additional governance tool, which will allow us to take more targeted action throughout our supply chain and show the transparency of our processes across the entire life cycle of our products. In recent years, thanks in part to our partnership with the WWF, we’ve worked hard to safeguard and protect the oceans. Now, as we take the next step on our journey towards sustainability, with an in-depth study of the environmental impact of the life cycle of our products, we will be able to take even more ambitious action to safeguard the planet’s resources, in areas ranging from atmospheric emissions to the consumption of water, soil, and energy”.

Read more about the Rio Mare Environmental Product Declaration