Pacific Andes Group (“the Group”), has released its 2012 / 2013 Sustainability Report, which meets the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)’s A+ level of reporting, the highest level available. GRI is a non-profit organisation promoting economic, environmental and social sustainability by providing organisations with a comprehensive sustainability reporting framework used worldwide.
“This is our second Sustainability Report and it demonstrates our continuing commitment to sustainability in all aspects of our operations,” said Mr Ng Joo Siang, Vice Chairman and Managing Director. “This year’s theme, “Responsible seafood – from global to local”, focuses on how we implement our global commitment at the local level. We believe local leadership helps us maintain a strong connection with local culture, which is critically important to the long term health of the community and sustainability of our business. This is the basis for our global local business model.”
In line with this theme, the Report is structured around two core sections, namely a Global section and a Local section outlining each country’s operation. It highlights the Group’s developments in environmental sustainability, social compliance and product responsibility and outlines its sustainability commitments for 2014 / 2015.
In order to secure the A+ level, the Group fulfilled 139 indicators established by GRI under the headings of Economic, Environmental and Social Performance which include Labour Practices and Decent Work, Human Rights, Society and Product Responsibility.
Among the highlights is a report on how a subsidiary of the Group, National Fish and Seafood, is working with small aquaculture farmers in Asia to bring them up to internationally recognised aquaculture standards (http://www.gaalliance.org/newsroom/news.php?GAA-Partners-with-National-Fish-Seafood-SFP-to-Launch-Small-Farm-Pilot-Project-166).
Other key highlights of the Report include:
- Engagement with Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) governments on food security concerns
- The establishment of a Risk Management Committee at head office
- The Group’s position on human rights issues facing the industry
- Traceability systems in place and product certifications
- In-depth reporting on catch, production and sourcing data
- 30 environmental metrics audited by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, including carbon emissions footprint
The Group also reports beyond the GRI indicators to include other issues specific to the fishing industry. An in-depth stakeholder engagement process in Namibia assisted the Group to further refine its reporting criteria.
“Food security and the ability to meet nutritional needs are at the top of the agenda for many governments. As an industry and as individual organisations, we need to have strategies in place to meet the evolving demand-supply gap for fish protein in the years to come. We have been developing our internal thinking on this issue to better understand the future role we can play. While food security can be a threat, it can also be an opportunity for those who are best prepared.”
In building its internal capacity on CSR, the Group developed Vision, Missions and Values which will be reflected throughout the Group. This will be further enhanced by the establishment of Group-wide sustainability principles to be implemented by 2015.
To download the summary and full report, please go to http://www.pacificandes.com/html/sus_report.php
About Pacific Andes International Holdings Limited
Established in 1986 and listed on the Mainboard of Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 1994, Pacific Andes International Holdings Limited (HKEx: 1174) is a fully integrated group of companies with operations across the seafood value chain. This includes harvesting, sourcing, ocean logistics and transportation, food safety testing, processing, distribution and marketing of frozen fish products, as well as production and distribution of fishmeal and fish oil. The Group’s businesses span across the world with processing facilities located in the PRC, United States and Peru and investments in Germany and France.
The resources development and supply chain management division, Pacific Andes Resources Development Limited (“PARD”), and its fishery and fish supply division, China Fishery Group Limited (“China Fishery”), have been listed on the Singapore Exchange since 1996 and 2006 respectively.
Source: Pacific Andes International Holdings Limited
