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Sustainability

Our commitment to sustainability shapes the future of seafood, responsibly connecting our past, present, and the world ahead.
2024 Sustainability Report Download
  • Our Purpose

    Guided by our purpose, Reimagining Seafood to Nourish Life, we are dedicated to excellence by making decisions that positively impact our product,  our people, our communities, and the planet.

  • Our 2024 
sustainability report is 
out now

    Download
  • OUR JOURNEY

    What a journey 125 years has been. It s no surprise that our history has been marked by great achievements, challenges, opportunities, and breakthroughs a trajectory that many great companies face. These moments have shaped High Liner Foods into who we are today. Let s take a walk down memory lane to reflect on our key milestones.

    2007

    First Fishery Improvement Project.

    Supported the Barrents Sea Fishery Improvement project (FIP), the first of its kind.

    2010

    Responsible Sourcing Commitment.

    Publicly committed to source from responsible fisheries and aquaculture farms, working together with our NGO partner, Sustainably Fisheries Partnership.

    2011

    Seafood Summit Sponsor.

    Sponsored the 9th Annual Seafood Summit in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

    2012

    Doubled Certified Sustainable Seafood.

    Announced certifiable sustainable seafood purchases had doubled in over 2 years.

    2013

    Nearly 100% Seafood Responsibly Sourced.

    Helped establish a Pacific (longline) cod FIP and started a Pollock Sustainability Alliance. Achieved 99% of target goal for responsible sourcing.

    2014

    Introduced Supplier Code of Conduct.

    Introduced Supplier Code of Conduct, detailing social compliance guidelines to help ensure safe working conditions in our supply chain. Founding member of G.S.S.I.

    2015

    Top 10 Most Transparent Seafood Companies in the World.

    Ranked top seafood company in North America and one of the top 10 worldwide for global sustainability reporting and transparency in a benchmark report by seafoodintelligence.com. Received the Grand Champion Award from SeaWeb.

    2016

    Hunger Mission Launched.

    Launched Hunger Mission with goal of donating 10M meals by 2025 to amplify our impact in local communities.

    2017

    Ecovadis Bronze Rating.

    Ecovadis applauded HLF for strong CSR policies recognized by GMRI as Program Partner of the year.

    2018

    Founding Member of S.A.T.S. Coalition

    Founding member of Stronger America Through Seafood Coalition, organization focused on supporting American aquaculture to feed our growing population.

    2019

    From FIP to MSC Certified.

    Pacific Cod FIP initiated in 2013 successfully achieved Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification.

    2020

    Supporting Employees through Covid-19 Pandemic.

    Focused on employees COVID-19 Pandemic protection, health, and welfare.

    2021

    Reimagining Seafood to Nourish Life.

    Launched our new company purpose, Reimagining Seafood to Nourish Life, meant to guide our decisions from the commercial, operational and sustainability ends of our business.

    2022

    Commitment to ESG Goals.

    Completed first annual analysis of Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions and committed to 2030 reduction targets and Scope 3 emission inventory timeline. Committed to reducing food waste intensity 50% by 2030 in support of the United Nations' 10x20x30 initiative.

    2024

    Scope 3 Carbon Footprint Complete

    Conducted our first Greenhouse Gas scope 3 inventory to understand the emissions from our supply chains

    2024

    Giving Back to Our Community

    Donated $250,000 to the Health Services Foundation of South Shore in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia

  • OUR SUSTAINABILITY FRAMEWORK

    We organize our sustainability initiatives under three key pillar areas, each aligning with specific United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and embodying how we care for each.

    People

    Nurturing a culture of wellbeing, safety and belonging whilst giving back to the communities we call home.

    Tiles
    People

    Caring for Our People & Communities

    Nurturing a culture of wellbeing, safety and belonging whilst giving back to the communities we call home.

    Tiles
    Food

    Committing to consumer wellbeing through innovative product solutions, supply chain transparency and responsible, ethical sourcing.

    Tiles
    Food

    Caring Through Our Product

    Committing to consumer wellbeing through innovative product solutions, supply chain transparency and responsible, ethical sourcing.

    Tiles
    Fishing village

    Managing our environmental impact by cutting emissions, minimizing waste, and supporting fishery improvement.

    Tiles
    Fishing village

    CARING FOR OUR Planet

    Managing our environmental impact by cutting emissions, minimizing waste, and supporting fishery improvement.

    Tiles
  • Our 2030 Goals

    Climate Impact

    Reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions by 30% compared to our 2021 baseline. 

    Food Waste 

    Cut food waste intensity by 50% compared to our 2018 baseline.

    2023 GOALS:

    food waste
    emissions
  • This year we

    Explore the progress we’ve made to achieve our targets in 2024 and beyond.

    fish
    Product
    98%
    responsibly sourced seafood
    person
    Released an Updated Supplier Code of Conduct
    and our first Modern Slavery Report
    fishing boat
    Sourced
    100%
    of our raw material from 
audited suppliers
    People
    AWARDED
    8
    scholarships across Canada and the US to help cover tuition costs.
    money
    Donated
    $250,000
    to South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia
    School
    Celebrated the graduation of
our inaugural
2023 leadership academy class
    Energy
    Reduced Emissions
    7.15%
    reduction Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions (compared to 2021)
    fish bone
    Reduced Food Waste
    12%
    reduction in food waste
(compared to 2018)
    CO2
    Completed our Scope 3 GHG inventory
    Reduced Environmental Impact
  • Our Sustainability Partners & Recognition

    This year, we’re proud to announce the following awards:

    • Sodexo 2024 Better Tomorrow Award
    • BrandSpark’s 2024 Most Trusted Frozen Fish Brand
  • Meaningful change in the seafood industry requires a collective effort. From governments and NGOs to researchers, trade associations, and investors, we work together to ensure seafood remains a sustainable source of nourishment for generations to come. Key partnerships include:

  • GOVERNANCE & ETHICS

    Our Board of Directors and Executive Leadership Team are committed to achieving high ESG standards.
    Our ESG program is overseen by three committees of the Board: the Governance, Audit and HR committees.

    • The Governance Committee of the Board of Directors oversees our entire program, ensuring that management is implementing the Company’s ESG framework responsibly.
    • On environmental compliance matters specifically, responsibility rests with our Environmental Steering Committee, which reports to the Audit Committee. Made up of representatives from across the Company and meeting quarterly, the Environmental Steering Committee oversees and acts on environmental topics such as regulatory compliance and evolving requirements, waste and hazardous substance management practices, air emissions, and occupational health and safety concerns.
    • The Human Resources Committee (HR Committee) ensures that the health and safety of employees is protected and prioritized, and that management is effectively designing and pursuing goals related to diversity, equity and inclusion.

    We adopted a new strategic plan that shapes our own ESG policies and practices, and sets guidelines for how we engage with others on sustainability initiatives. The plan establishes a framework that makes these considerations integral to our core business, and evaluates our collective and individual performance accordingly.

    This Code of Conduct (CoC) outlines our company-wide commitment to honest, ethical behaviour among all employees, officers and directors of High Liner Foods. We require 100% of employees and directors to review and acknowledge the Code of Conduct annually, including specific online training for employees to further reinforce the CoC.

    The SCOC establishes guidelines for suppliers regarding the ethical treatment of workers, using a risk-based approach for audit frequency. We continually review and revise policies to ensure they reflect changing circumstances in our industry while always reflecting our core values and commitments. Our original SCOC pertained only to fish suppliers; in 2024 we will extend it to include suppliers of packaging and ingredients. (This effort was postponed during COVID-19.)

  • our sustainability reports

    Read our latest report to learn more about the progress we've made on our sustainability journey.

    Download 2024 Report

     
  • Historical Sustainability Reports