SCEPT calculates carbon footprints for seafood products, helping companies identify emissions hotspots and align with the UK’s 2050 net-zero targets.
Photo: Seafish
Tesco, one of the UK’s leading retailers, has announced plans to integrate the Seafood Carbon Emissions Profiling Tool (SCEPT) across its seafood supply chain and products, marking what the company called "a significant milestone" in its efforts on sustainability. The initiative supports Tesco’s broader goal of achieving net-zero emissions across its value chain by 2050, the company said.
Developed in 2024 by UK seafood trade body Seafish, SCEPT enables businesses to calculate carbon footprints for both wild-capture and aquaculture seafood products. By identifying emissions hotspots within product supply chains, the tool provides insights that can drive targeted improvements and decarbonisation efforts.
Tesco recently hosted a webinar to introduce its suppliers to the tool, detailing how data can be collected, input and used.
"We commend Tesco’s commitment to implement the SCEPT across its seafood supply chain and are delighted some of its suppliers are already seeing the benefits of this user-friendly, industry-facing resource," said Dr. Stuart McLanaghan, Head of Responsible Sourcing at Seafish in a press release.
"The tool’s integration across UK seafood supply chains is also crucial for generating high-quality, industry-averaged datasets for benchmarking and subsequent public disclosure purposes," McLanaghan added.
Tesco's adoption of SCEPT complements its existing efforts to drive sustainability in its supply chain, with its 100 largest suppliers having achieved a 20% reduction in manufacturing emissions, the company said. Currently over 90% of the retailer's carbon footprint stems from its products and supply chain.
"We recognise the responsibility we have to support our seafood suppliers in reducing their carbon footprint, in line with our collective net-zero commitments," said Natalie Smith, Head of Sustainable Agriculture and Fisheries at Tesco.
"We know the importance of ensuring we have accurate primary data to make informed choices on how we do this and the rollout of Seafish’s carbon tool across our seafood supply chain is an important step on this pathway."
"Together with other Seafood Grimsby and Humber Alliance members, we are delighted to have helped develop the SCEPT to ensure it is able to meet our business needs," said Scott Johnston, Technical Director at Sofina Foods Europe, and an early adopter of the carbon emissions profiling tool.
"Sofina has been active in using the tool to inform its seafood supply chain operations which is providing valuable insights on key focus areas for decarbonisation. We are excited to be working with the major UK retailers including Tesco and our seafood supply chain to use the tool to support accurate carbon baselining and transformational steps towards shared climate goals," Johnston added.
