Ruqayyah Snyder
John West is an Australian brand of tinned tuna that has been criticised by Greenpeace Australia Pacific and other organisations for its unsustainable fishing methods. Greenpeace has accused John West of unnecessarily killing marine life, including sharks, rays, baby tuna, and endangered sea turtles, due to its use of outdated and destructive fishing practices. While John West has made commitments to sustainability and ethical sourcing, with partnerships to promote sustainable fishing, the brand has been given a below-benchmark score for its lack of transparency regarding its fishing methods.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| John West's skipjack tuna caught in partnership with | Pacifical, a Pacific-region leader in the promotion of sustainably and socially responsibly caught skipjack and yellowfin tuna |
| John West's partnership with MRAG Asia Pacific | To maintain the sound management and sustainable development of aquatic resources and ecosystems |
| Simplot Australia | One of the first Australian funding partners of the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) |
| Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) | An international non-profit with a mission to end overfishing by setting standards for sustainable fishing and seafood supply chain assurance |
| John West's tuna tins | Are recyclable |
| John West's partnership with industry bodies, government and non-government organisations and experts | To achieve sustainability goals |
| John West's support for Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) | The world's leading certification program for wild-caught, sustainable seafood |
| Pacifical | A global organisation chosen to promote sustainable tuna fishing by the eight Pacific Island nations that are signatories to the Parties to Nauru Agreement (PNA) |
| John West's sourcing of seafood | From well-managed fisheries, with full traceability of seafood products and responsible fishing strategies |
| John West's score in The Good Shopping Guide's Ethical Tinned Tuna Ratings Table | Below benchmark |
| John West's score in The Good Shopping Guide for its Environmental Report | Top score |
| John West's score in The Good Shopping Guide for Nuclear Power, Fossil Fuels, Animal Welfare, Human Rights, Political Donations or Armaments | Top score |
| John West's target for wild-caught seafood by 2030 | 100% sustainably sourced, all vessels follow best practices for species protection, and zero deforestation |
| John West's ECOTWIST cans | Recyclable |
| John West's can code | Enables traceability of the can to the stretch of water the fish was caught in and the name of the boat |
| John West's fishing methods | Use of aggregation devices that endanger species like sharks and turtles |
| John West labelled as | Australia's worst tuna brand by Greenpeace Australia Pacific |
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What You'll Learn
John West's sustainability efforts
John West has outlined a clear roadmap to guide their journey towards a healthier planet. The company is passionate about seafood and the oceans, and is committed to safeguarding the future of the latter.
John West has set several sustainability goals and has partnered with a number of industry bodies, government and non-government organisations, and experts to achieve them. The company is working closely with MRAG Asia Pacific to maintain the sound management and sustainable development of aquatic resources and ecosystems. John West also works with Pacifical, a global organisation chosen by eight Pacific Island nations to promote sustainable tuna fishing. Pacifical is a Pacific-region leader in the promotion of sustainably and socially responsibly fished skipjack and yellowfin tuna.
John West has also partnered with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), the world's leading certification program for wild-caught, sustainable seafood. The company's tuna tins are recyclable, and customers are encouraged to recycle them where facilities exist.
John West has also committed to slashing energy consumption in its factories and investing in renewables, targeting a 42% emissions reduction by 2030. Establishing zero-waste, closed-loop factories is a top priority, alongside a strong commitment to sustainable packaging. By 2030, the company aims to ensure 100% of wild-caught seafood is sustainably sourced, all vessels follow best practices for species protection, and zero deforestation is achieved.
In 2011, John West and Greenpeace set sustainable fishing targets. The company announced a staged programme to source 100% of tuna sold in the UK by 2016 using properly audited pole and line techniques, as well as sourcing from fleets that pledge not to use fish aggregating devices (FADs).
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John West's recycling initiatives
John West has been nominated for the Sustainability Awards 2024 for its ECOTWIST aluminium foil stickers used for the company's multipack tuna cans. The ECOTWIST multipack has replaced plastic wrap with fully recyclable aluminium Smartstrips that hold the cans together. This innovation reduces plastic waste, CO2 emissions, and transportation inefficiencies, supporting the company's sustainability goals.
The Smartstrip has been independently verified as fully recyclable (Class A certification) alongside the steel can within the UK’s kerbside recycling system, making it convenient for consumers to recycle the entire package in one step. The ECOTWIST project is projected to have significant environmental and logistical benefits, eliminating the need for 65 tonnes of PET plastic shrink wrap annually in the UK and reducing shipments by 200 containers per year.
John West's skipjack tuna is caught in partnership with Pacifical, a Pacific-region leader in promoting sustainably and socially responsibly caught skipjack and yellowfin tuna. The company works closely with MRAG Asia Pacific to maintain the sound management and sustainable development of aquatic resources and ecosystems. John West also supports the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), the world's leading certification program for wild-caught, sustainable seafood.
However, Greenpeace Australia Pacific has criticized John West, claiming that the company's use of outdated and destructive fishing methods, such as 'fish aggregating devices' (FADs), results in the unnecessary killing of marine life, including sharks, rays, baby tuna, and endangered sea turtles. Greenpeace has demanded that John West commit to stopping the use of FADs, as other major brands in Australia have already switched to more sustainable methods.
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John West's fishing methods
John West has been criticized for its fishing methods, particularly the use of "fish aggregation devices" (FADs) and giant nets, which result in the indiscriminate killing of marine life. FADs are floating objects, such as bamboo rafts, that are deployed in the ocean to attract schools of fish, making it easier to catch a large number of fish in one go. However, this method often results in significant "bycatch," which is the unintended capture of marine species other than the target species. In the case of John West, it has been estimated that at least 10% of each haul consists of non-target species, including baby tuna, sharks, rays, and endangered sea turtles. This bycatch rate is ten times higher than when nets are set without FADs.
In response to these concerns, John West has made commitments to improve its fishing practices and become more sustainable. The company has partnered with organizations such as Pacifical, a global organization chosen by eight Pacific Island nations to promote sustainable tuna fishing in the region. John West also works with MRAG Asia Pacific to ensure the sustainable development of aquatic resources and ecosystems. Additionally, John West has stated that they do not sell endangered or critically endangered species, and that all seafood products are caught in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Despite these commitments, John West has been accused of breaking its promises to consumers. In 2011, the company pledged that 100% of its tuna would be sourced sustainably by 2016, primarily through the use of pole and line fishing methods. However, by 2015, it was revealed that only 2% of its fish were caught using pole and line, while the remaining 98% were still caught using harmful methods, including FADs. This led to John West being ranked last in Greenpeace's 2015 tuna sustainability ranking.
Following continued pressure from Greenpeace and consumers, John West's parent company, Thai Union, announced in 2017 that it would improve its fishing practices. Thai Union promised to reduce the use of fishing methods that harm wildlife and to improve traceability and transparency in its supply chain. These commitments included extending its ban on at-sea trans-shipping and making it easier for consumers to track the source of their tuna cans.
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John West's human rights record
John West is a popular Australian brand of canned tuna. The company has been criticised by Greenpeace Australia Pacific for its use of unsustainable and destructive fishing methods, which result in the unnecessary killing of marine life, including sharks, rays, baby tuna, and endangered sea turtles. Greenpeace claims that 10% of John West's tuna catch is made up of other marine life due to the use of outdated "fish aggregating devices" (FADs) and giant nets.
In response to these criticisms, John West has emphasised its commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. The company works with various organisations to achieve its sustainability goals, including Pacifical, an organisation chosen by eight Pacific Island nations to promote sustainable tuna fishing. John West also partners with MRAG Asia Pacific to ensure the sustainable development of aquatic resources and ecosystems. Additionally, John West supports the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), a non-profit organisation dedicated to ending overfishing and promoting sustainable fishing practices.
Despite these partnerships, Greenpeace Australia Pacific named John West "Australia's worst tuna brand" in 2012. Greenpeace demanded that John West stop using FADs, as other major brands in Australia had already switched to more sustainable methods. Greenpeace's campaign highlighted the environmental impact of John West's practices, particularly the high rate of "bycatch," which includes non-target marine species.
John West's actions have important implications for human rights, particularly in the context of environmental and social rights. The company's unsustainable fishing practices contribute to environmental degradation and the destruction of marine ecosystems, affecting the livelihoods and wellbeing of coastal communities, including Indigenous peoples and those dependent on marine resources.
While John West has taken steps to address sustainability concerns, the company's response to Greenpeace's criticisms and its commitment to protecting human rights, especially the rights of those impacted by their environmental practices, remains unclear.
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John West's environmental impact
John West has been criticised by Greenpeace Australia Pacific for its destructive fishing methods, which have been deemed unnecessary and harmful to marine life. Greenpeace claims that 10% of John West's tuna catch is comprised of other marine creatures, including sharks, rays, baby tuna, and endangered sea turtles. This is due to the use of ''fish aggregating devices' (FADs) and giant nets, which result in a high rate of 'bycatch'.
However, John West claims to be committed to sustainability and the wellbeing of coastal communities. They have partnered with Pacifical, an organisation dedicated to promoting sustainable and socially responsible fishing practices for skipjack and yellowfin tuna. John West also works with MRAG Asia Pacific to ensure the sustainable development of aquatic resources and ecosystems and is an active supporter of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF). Additionally, John West encourages the recycling of their tuna tins and has introduced new ECOTWIST® cans to reduce waste.
John West Australia actively encourages independent monitoring and is regularly audited by MRAG Asia Pacific to improve the sustainability of its supply chain. They support the Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (RFMO) and collaborate on tagging programs and information sharing to better manage fisheries. Furthermore, John West Australia has co-funded a scheme to empower local women to develop small businesses that can benefit from increased fishing and trading.
John West is also a strong supporter of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), which is committed to ending overfishing and setting standards for sustainable fishing practices. Their skipjack tuna has achieved MSC certification, indicating compliance with rigorous sustainability standards. John West's partnership with the MSC contributes to a sustainable future for the oceans, with MSC-certified fisheries showing increased abundance of fish stocks compared to uncertified fisheries.
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Frequently asked questions
No, John West tuna is not made in Australia. John West tuna is owned by Thai Union, and the company has been accused of unsustainable fishing methods and human rights abuses in its seafood supply chains.
John West has been criticized for its lack of transparency regarding its fishing methods and for using outdated and destructive fishing practices, such as "fish aggregating devices" (FADs) and giant nets, which result in the unnecessary killing of marine life, including sharks, rays, baby tuna, and endangered sea turtles.
John West has committed to improving its sustainability practices. By 2030, the company aims to ensure that 100% of its wild-caught seafood is sustainably and responsibly sourced, and all vessels follow best practices for species protection. They have also partnered with organizations like Pacifical and MRAG Asia Pacific to promote sustainable and socially responsible fishing.
John West provides a can code on each product that enables consumers to trace the origin of their tuna. You can enter the code on their website to track the journey of your can from the ocean to your table. Additionally, John West publishes an annual report detailing its efforts to promote sustainability and protect the environment.
