WWF & Mars Petcare Partner for Sustainable Fish

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WWF & Mars Petcare Partner for Sustainable Fish 2009 – 2021 PROTECTING OUR OCEANS TOGETHER WWF and Mars Partner for Sustainable Fish

The global seafood sector is vital to food security, Petcare partnered to set an ambitious, industry- nutrition, and income for people around the world. leading target in 2010 to procure 100% of the Our oceans generate at least $2.5 trillion worth of company’s fish from sustainable sources according products and services each year, and fishing alone to Mars Petcare's guidelines. WWF has been working supports more than 260 million jobs. Additionally, with Mars for over a decade to review, innovate and seafood remains the major source of protein for scale its approach to more sustainable fish sourcing. roughly 3.3 billion people. Fish is also an important As well as seeking to buy 100% of their supply ingredient in healthy, nutritious, and high-quality from more sustainable sources, Mars Petcare seeks pet food. Only a healthy ocean can keep this eco- to address food security by using fewer whole fish nomic engine running. in its products, not using endangered fish species, However, fisheries around the world are on and working to advance respect for human rights the verge of collapse and are under significant within its supply chain. The partnership identified threat from overuse. According to the UN Food & four strategies to achieve these goals: Agriculture Organization, one out of every three assessed wild fish populations has been overfished 1) Reduce pressure on fish ecosystems by or harvested beyond its limit. Overfishing can minimizing competition with the human food lead to species endangerment and extinction, and supply chain, helping to address food security therefore to biodiversity loss. It also leads to and not sourcing any endangered species. reduced catches and lower profits. In response, 2) Reward sourcing more sustainable fish, some operators turn to fishing illegally, without aligned with Mars Petcare's guidelines. proper licenses or authorizations or in protected areas – actions called illegal, unreported and 3) Restore: Collaborate to restore and safeguard unregulated (IUU) fishing. critical habitats, partnering with communities to restore coral reefs in coastal ecosystems and Being Part of the Solution invest in Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs). While Mars Petcare accounts for a small share of the 4) Respect: Advance respect for the human rights of global fish market, as a purpose-driven business, it people in the fish industry, with a focus on Thailand. chose to be part of the solution. WWF and Mars 2 © Shutterstock / Guido Montaldo / WWF © Chalabala / iStock 3 Our Partnership Mars Petcare and WWF collaborated for many Alternative; MarinTrust/IFFO RS; the Global years prior to initiating a formal partnership in Aquaculture Alliance Best Aquaculture 2009 covering a broad range of topics including fish Practices (BAP certification); the Global Good sustainability. In the early years of the partnership, Aquaculture Practice (GAP) Certified 2010 WWF conducted a supply risk assessment of Aquaculture standard; supplies from a Mars Petcare was the first global raw materials and sourcing locations to help Mars comprehensive Fishery Improvement identify priorities and focus on more sustainable Project or Aquaculture Improvement Project pet food company to make a sourcing. in place (considered to be transitioning to public commitment with WWF The partnership continues to this day, and Mars certification); supplies from the International towards sustainable seafood. Petcare and WWF have extended their close Seafood Sustainability Foundation partnership by extending their longstanding collabo- participating companies; and supplies ration for a further five years through 2025. meeting Mars Supplier Quality Assurance internal fish sourcing requirements.

Mars Petcare’s Fish Sustainability Mars Petcare management annually reviews and Commitment revises these guidelines as needed, considering input from external technical experts and advisers. In collaboration with WWF, Mars Petcare’s ambition is Assurance of Mars Petcare’s sustainable fish to sustainably source 100% of its fish supply, including sourcing performance is made annually by an wild-caught fish, farmed fish, fish meal and fish oil. independent third-party auditor Lloyds Register Mars Petcare aims at sourcing from fisheries that Quality Assurance (LRQA). are managed in ways that respect the diversity of the fish ecosystem and is committed to not sourcing any species listed as endangered or critically endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Mars Petcare also seeks to minimize its use of fish ingredients that are appropriate for human consumption where possible, with the objective of reducing pressure on human food supply and ecosystems. Mars Petcare has established guidelines to identify the fish supply that it considers to be sustainably sourced:

Mars Petcare requires its fish suppliers to follow the Mars Supplier Code of Conduct which articulates Mars’ social, environmental, and ethical expectations. The Code contains globally aligned standards and is rooted in international law. Mars Petcare's sustainable fish sourcing guidelines are as follows:

Supply certified or endorsed by credible third parties, including: the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC); the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC); supply listed by Monterey Bay Aquarium Best Choice or Good Choice

4 © Shutterstock / Guido Montaldo / WWF 5 MARS PETCARE ACHIEVEMENTS & HIGHLIGHTS

As of the end of 2020, LRQA found that Mars met Leading Efforts for Tuna Conservation 81% of its sustainable fish goal across all of its pet Mars Petcare continues to demonstrate their leadership use of non-entangling fish aggregating devices (FAD) food brands worldwide in line with the company’s in supporting conservation through tuna advocacy by to catch tuna. The use of these lower-entangling sourcing policy guidelines. LRQA also confirmed supporting global efforts asking country delegates within FADs help reduce the incidental catch of sharks, sea that Mars has not sourced any endangered marine key tuna Regional Fishery Management Organizations turtles, dolphinfish, billfish, and other finfish, while species from the IUCN Red List. WWF has worked (RFMOs) to adopt measures that are critical to tuna targeting tuna stocks. Today, the four major tuna closely with Mars and will continue to provide conservation. As a result, several key measures have RFMOs have adopted this requirement. strategic guidance on the path toward more been adopted, including a binding requirement for the sustainable and responsible fish sourcing.

MSC and ASC Sourcing Progress By measuring Mars against the most robust certifications,a WWF study determined that from 2015 to 2019, Mars Petcare increased sourcing by 26% from the Marine Stewardship (MSC) certified wild-caught fisheries in key regions such as Asia Pacific and Europe. In 2019, the company also increased sourcing from the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certified farms by 49% in key regions such as Asia Pacific and Europe. These numbers confirm the company’s continuous progress against these leading environmental standards.

6 © Chalabala / iStock 7 Driving Change on MARS GLOBAL SEAFOOD ENGAGEMENT the Water Mars Petcare is committed to driving change on the water by supporting key fisheries that Morocco sardine are committed to transitioning to meet the The FIP started in 2015 with the end goal of obtaining the MSC certification. The FIP has focused on ensuring that MSC's Fisheries Standard through precautionary harvest control rules are in place for individual Thailand longtail tuna comprehensive FIPs. Mars has worked with stocks and improving data collection and analysis on The goal of this FIP is to obtain the MSC certification and help suppliers to source from FIPs. and looking discards and endangered, threatened, and protected species' the fishery better meet international market requirements. ahead Mars Petcare will increase its level of interactions through a scientific observer program. The longtail tuna FIP is working to improve cross-sector engagement. WWF and Mars are currently collaboration and enhance fishery traceability. As longtail tuna working together to identify new projects catches occur in Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of other for which Mars can provide financial support in countries, including Malaysia and Indonesia, the FIP also aims order to directly engage and leverage Mars to advance the implementation of both national and regional Petcare’s market influence for positive change. conservation and management.

Peru anchovy The Peruvian anchovy is one of the most important single species fishery worldwide. The main issues this FIP aims to address are ensuring that the fishery is meeting the needs of the ecosystem, addressing illegal and unreported fishing, and better understanding its impacts on endangered, threatened, and protected species.

Mars Assisted Reef Restoration System (MARRS) Coral Reef Restoration WWF supports the conservation and restoration of Since 2006, Mars Petcare has been developing a cost- coral reefs from the Caribbean to the Indo-Pacific. effective and scalable solution to restore coral reefs We work closely with communities and managers to -the Mars Assisted Reef Restoration System (MARRS). develop and implement conservation strategies that This program has demonstrated rapid rebuilding of address the biggest local threats to coral reefs. While coral reefs from the bottom up; in one long-term site, much of the work is focused on conservation efforts, coral cover dramatically increased, up to 60%, within there are sites where reefs are so degraded that coral the first two years. These results help rebuild a reef restoration may be the only option for coral reef healthy, diverse, and productive coral reef, benefiting recovery. In doing this work, we need to adopt innova- not only the oceans but also the local communities tive approaches that can increase the likelihood of that depend on them. long-term success for both reefs and communities and work alongside partners like Mars that are developing and testing restoration methods.

Prior to WWF provides scientific advice on various 2009 issues to Mars Incorporated. 2017 WWF and Mars identify Fishery Improvement Projects for deeper engagement in supporting fisheries in 2009 WWF formally partners with Mars transition toward sustainability. Incorporated Scientific Advisory Committee to provide expert scientific advice on advances, opportunities, and barriers to progress in human and animal health and nutrition, plant sciences, food WWF participates in Mars Petcare’s safety, and sustainability. 2018 external global stakeholder summit to review progress to-date, discuss challenges, and identify priorities for 2010 future work. In an industry first, Mars Petcare commits to sourcing 100% from sustainable sources by 2020 and commits to reduce pressure on fish ecosystems under threat by minimizing competition with the human food supply 2019 WWF partners with Mars Petcare to chain and not souring any species on the strengthen its sustainable fish IUCN list of endangered species. sourcing guidelines.

© chendongshan / Getty WWF works with Mars to conduct a supply 2013 2020 WWF provides tailored recommendations risk analysis of Mars’ raw materials and to Mars Petcare's business units to sourcing locations to help identify priorities improve fish sourcing from key markets Respect for Rights and the Rule of Law with a focus on sustainable fish sourcing. based on 2019 sourcing data. Mars Petcare contributes $500,000 to WWF As a board member of the Seafood Task Force (STF), a leading cross-sector to help protect the future of tigers via a “Big initiative driving sustainability in the seafood sector in Southeast Asia, Cat” on-package promotional campaign with Mars Petcare has taken a leadership role in driving measurable social and the Whiskas brand. environmental change in the Thai seafood industry. This work has focused on driving greater supply chain accountability, 2021 WWF and Mars Petcare announce the verification, and transparency, with an emphasis on addressing Illegal, extension of their decade-long partnership through 2025 to continue driving the Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. Mars and WWF collaborate on an in depth- 2015 company towards more sustainable and For example, in 2018 Mars Petcare and Thai Union worked together to assessment to provide recommendations responsible sourcing practices. address IUU risks by introducing digital traceability into supply chains using on improving sustainable fish sourcing from e-logbooks. WWF was a founding member of the STF and remains on the key Mars Petcare markets, including Asia advisory council, working closely with Mars Petcare and other members on Pacific and Europe. the platform’s social and environmental objectives and impacts. 10 11 HE WAY FORWARD The current demands on our oceans are su stainability challenges and giving the company unmanageable. That’s why WWF and Mars the guidance and support to shift its sourcing in the Petcare are maintaining their close partnership right direction. by extending their long-standing collaboration for another five years. • Mars is not only focused on doing the right thing through its own sourcing, but has also seen the The extension will build on the mutual efforts of benefit of engaging and influencing others within this the past decade, during which we have worked industry. It has served on the board of the Seafood together to drive positive change in the seafood Task Force to tackle common issues like traceability industry, and in Mars Petcare’s fish supply chain and worked with other global fish buyers through the and sourcing. We are proud that together we Consumer Goods Forum on collective challenges like have driven significant improvements in Mars responsible recruitment. sustainable fish sourcing and traceability, positively influenced sustainability in the fishing • Mars has learned that the engagement with sector through industry forums, and increased governments and global policymakers is critical to awareness among consumers and policymakers driving progress, both on the environmental and the alike that a more sustainable future for fish is not social aspects of fish sustainability. The challenges only possible, but essential. we all need to overcome in this sector are far beyond the ability of any one company or even any one However, there is still much work to be done to industry to successfully address. “As the first global pet food company to make a public boost the availability of sustainable fish and commitment to sourcing sustainable seafood, Mars Petcare to address a range of environmental and social In partnership with WWF, Mars Petcare will continue continues to influence global supply chains through its challenges in the fishing sector, which is why the to work toward its commitment to source 100% of two partners are renewing their collaboration fish from more sustainable sources, continue to have longstanding ambition to transition fisheries and farms to more through 2025. WWF will continue to provide expert no endangered fish species in its supply chain, and sustainable practices.” support and advice as Mars pursues its take action to strengthen protections for the people sustainable fish sourcing goals. in its fish value chain. — Michael Griff, Manager of Seafood Engagement at WWF We will work together to improve environmental and social impacts in Mars’ fish supply chain and to positively influence the fishing sector more broadly, focusing on improving conditions across three major workstreams: Wild-caught fish (including financial support for FIP), farmed fish (Aquaculture), and addressing IUU fishing, and better traceability.

As the two partners make progress toward Mars’ commitment, they are eager to share key lessons they have learned along the way:

• Engagement of procurement has been key to progress. Mars has engaged all of its fish buyers around the world in understanding the

12 13 Why we are here To conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth and to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature. www.seafoodsustainability.org