July 18, 2018 — Unilever United States, Danone North America, Nestle USA, and Mars Incorporated have joined together to create the Sustainable Food Policy Alliance (SFPA), a new advocacy group that aims to benefit fishing communities and the environment.
The SFPA seeks to advance policies that are beneficial for the environment, while accounting for the specific business imperatives of its supply chains, including fishing communities, farmers, ranchers, and other producers.
The formation of the new organization was announced by Danone North America CEO Mariano Lozano; Mars Wrigley Confectionery Americas President Tracey Massey; Nestlé USA Chairman and CEO Steve Presley; and Amanda Sourry, president of Unilever North America.
“As an Alliance, we commit first and foremost to leading by example. Each member company has independently proven a willingness to advocate for the long-term interests of the people who farm and supply our raw materials, and people who make and consume our products,” they said.
The manufacturers said they have already been aggressive in sourcing sustainable seafood and are at the forefront of human rights issues, including forced labor in the seafood industry.
Nestlé, which purchased around 134,000 tons of seafood in 2017, formed an Action Plan in 2015 to tackle Thai forced labor practices, which it called “unacceptable.”