Traceability Mars partners with GDST and Wholechain, becoming the first pet food company to commit to meeting global seafood traceability standard
Mars has announced a significant step in seafood traceability for its pet food products, joining the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) and partnering with Wholechain.
This move positions Mars as the “world’s first petfood company to commit to meeting the GDST Standard” and implement digital interoperable traceability across its seafood supply chains.
Driving Transparency and Responsible Sourcing
Mars’ decision to join GDST underscores its “dedication to transparency and traceability.” This aligns the company with global standards designed to not only assure customers of fully traceable seafood products but also to “enhance Mars’ business and supply chain decision-making, supporting the implementation of CSR policies, risk mitigation and business resilience.” The commitment includes implementing digital interoperable traceability – the capturing of standardised data and exchanging of that data between systems – throughout their seafood supply chains.
Andrew Russell, Global Marine Sustainability Lead of Mars Petcare, commented: “At Mars, we have been working for more than 15 years, in collaboration with WWF, to drive more responsible fish sourcing, and address the growing pressures on vulnerable ocean ecosystems.”
Russell added: “By joining the GDST, we are advancing our commitment to responsible sourcing and are proud to work with Wholechain to make meaningful strides in achieving end-to-end traceability across our seafood supply chains.”
Partnering for Scalable Solutions
To meet the GDST Standard, Mars has collaborated with Wholechain, a GDST Verified Capable solution provider. Wholechain is described as a “proven leader in traceability” that offers Mars a scalable solution adaptable across multiple commodities, not just seafood.
Wholechain is currently supporting Mars in gaining “visibility into key points within its seafood supply chain, from origin to finished product.” By leveraging Wholechain’s platform, Mars aims to “enhance product integrity, mitigate risk, and help ensure responsible environmental and social sourcing across its operations.”
Jayson Berryhill, CEO of Wholechain, praised the initiative: “Mars’ commitment to adopting GDST standards and prioritizing traceability is a powerful example of industry leadership.”
Berryhill expressed enthusiasm for the partnership: “We are excited to work with Mars to turn their commitment into action, providing the technological support needed to deliver full visibility across their seafood supply chain.”
Broader Industry Impact Anticipated
This collaboration between Mars, GDST, and Wholechain is also expected to support the “longer-term expansion of the GDST Standard into non-seafood commodity markets.” Huw Thomas, Director of GDST, elaborated on this potential impact.
Thomas explained: “Companies with supply chains including non-seafood commodities – such as palm, soy, beef, chicken – are already exploring utilization of the GDST Standard in realizing their digital interoperable traceability ambitions.”
He anticipates that “The learnings Mars will be taking from implementing the GDST Standard for their seafood products across their non-seafood supply chains is anticipated to help to drive wider adoption of the GDST Standard across multiple markets, delivering industry-wide improvements in traceability and accountability.”
This proactive and actionable approach to supply chain transparency aligns with Mars’s stated purpose to help create “a safe, healthy and sustainable world for its partners and the communities in which it operates.” Mars aims to lead by example, driving industry-wide improvements in seafood traceability and accountability.
Source: Press Release