2023 was the best year ever for Norwegian seafood exports. In total, Norway exported 2.8 million tonnes of seafood to a value of NOK 172 billion (EUR 15,2 billion) last year. It is a record value and corresponds to 40 million meals every single day – all year round. The seafood industry is Norway’s third largest export industry after oil and gas, and accounts for a significant share of Norwegian mainland exports.
EPD and PCR are important for the Seafood Industry
Like every other industry, the seafood industry has increasingly been challenged by issues related to environmental and climate impact. A consistent requirement that follows from the regulations the EU is now developing to bring about sustainable development is the requirement to document the environmental impacts that result from the various types of production and products. This is where the work with environmental documentation and EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) comes into play. To be able to compare the environmental impact of products and achieve sustainable development, EPD is a powerful tool. EPDs can be compared to nutrition labels for food, but instead of nutrition facts, they contain values for the product’s environmental impact. LCA.no, through our LCA specialist Gaspard Philis, has been involved in an exciting project with The Norwegian Seafood Federation. You can read more about this in this article.
Introducing Gaspard Philis, the driving force behind our partnership with The Norwegian Seafood Federation
We invited Gaspard to share a brief overview of his experience in the fields of sustainability and software development with our audience: “I have my education partly from France and partly from Norway. I did a bachelor’s degree in food science in Lyon. I then took a master’s degree at NTNU in Trondheim in industrial ecology. I completed my education with a doctorate at NTNU Ålesund in 2021. My doctoral thesis was about quantifying the environmental footprint of salmon production in Norway using environmental life cycle analysis (LCA). In my research, I focused particularly on the environmental impacts of lice treatments and differences between salmon farming technologies (land-based, sea-based and hybrid technology). After my PhD, I looked for innovative businesses that had a focus on environmental documentation and the development of technology to help the business world succeed better with sustainability. I then found LCA.no, and now I have been here since autumn 2021.”
About The Norwegian Seafood Federation
The Norwegian Seafood Federation is the national association for the fisheries and aquaculture industry. The organization is Norway’s largest seafood organisation, and covers the entire value chain from fjord to table in the Norwegian seafood industry. The association represents 900 member companies with over 20,000 employees in the fishing industry, aquaculture, feed production, biomarine industry, technology and service, seafood shipping and fish health. Among the member companies are both small, locally owned family businesses and large multinational companies in the seafood industry. The Norwegian Seafood Federation works to ensure stable framework conditions for the Norwegian fisheries and aquaculture industry.
Developing PCR and a new EPD generator for The Norwegian Seafood Federation
The project started at the beginning of 2022 with the development of new “Product Category Rules” (PCR) under the auspices of EPD-Norge and the development of a new EPD generator for The Norwegian Seafood Federation. A PCR is an important standard in the EPD system that should describe how the LCA and EPD methodology should be used for a specific group of products. Since LCA and environmental documentation are fairly new in the seafood industry, it was necessary to develop the standard in parallel with the tool. Both PCR and EPD generator development focused on sea-based infrastructure and components for aquaculture facilities. Two suppliers of equipment for the seafood industry, Scale Aquaculture AS and AKVA group AS, were involved in the project to establish and test the tool for environmental declaration.
The first EPD on float collar was produced by Scale Aquaculture in July 2023. It was presented at the world’s largest aquaculture fair, Aqua Nor 23, in August 2023. AKVA group has recently published an EPD on standard fish net. LCA.no has also collaborated with The Norwegian Seafood Federation on a launch webinar for an EPD generator for sea-based aquaculture infrastructure and components. This was carried out on 27 September 2023.
As an industry, we must increasingly be able to document our climate and environmental impact, both to meet a growing demand for information and, importantly, to comply with new EU requirements. EPDs will ultimately professionalize the industry and help both suppliers and customers make environmentally friendly choices. Trude Olafsen, ESG Manager at AKVA group
Increasing interest from the Seafood industry
Scale Aquaculture and AKVA group stand out as leading companies making substantial investments in environmental initiatives. Their impactful presentations at industry gatherings have positioned them as key players in the seafood sector, influencing a multitude of suppliers and customers. Additionally, LCA.no and The Norwegian Seafood Federation have observed a growing interest among other industry participants following the insightful seminar hosted by The Norwegian Seafood Federation.
The seafood industry is a complex value chain
The illustration is made by ChatGPT
Example of salmon value chain
To better understand the complexity of developing EPD for the seafood industry, we briefly present an example of a value chain concentrated of salmon fish farming:
1. Broodstock Management
Activity: Selecting and managing the broodstock (adult fish used for breeding) to ensure healthy and genetically superior salmon eggs.
2. Hatchery
Activity: Fertilizing eggs and raising them in a controlled hatchery environment until they hatch and the fry (young salmon) are strong enough to be transferred to rearing tanks or pens.
3. Smolt Production
Activity: Rearing juvenile salmon (smolts) in freshwater tanks or pens until they are ready to be transferred to seawater. This stage includes feeding, growth monitoring, and health management.
4. Sea Farming
Activity: Transferring smolts to sea cages or pens where they grow to market size under monitored conditions, including optimal feeding and health management.
5. Harvesting
Activity: Collecting mature salmon from sea farms, using methods designed to minimize stress and maintain fish quality.
6. Processing and Packaging
Activity: Transforming harvested salmon into various products (e.g., fillets, steaks) through cleaning, processing, and packaging. This stage may also include value-added processing such as smoking or marinating.
7. Distribution
Activity: Transporting the processed salmon to retailers, restaurants, and consumers through efficient logistics and cold chain management.
8. Retail and Food Service
Activity: Selling salmon products through supermarkets, fish markets, restaurants, and online platforms.
9. Preparation and Consumption
Activity: Cooking and serving salmon in various dishes, from simple grilled preparations to gourmet recipes.
Throughout this value chain, there are additional considerations for sustainability, such as environmental management at each stage, ensuring ethical practices, and promoting the health and welfare of the salmon. This comprehensive approach from salmon eggs to dinner plate exemplifies the intricate processes involved in bringing a high-quality, sustainable seafood product to consumers.
Challenges during the process of producing PEF and EPD
One of the challenges we faced was the limited availability of PEF documentation. Unlike producing approved EPDs, the process for PEF has been more extensive and time-consuming. However, efforts are now being made to harmonize PEF and EPD. While both methods involve LCA at their core and are considered type III environmental declarations, there are still slight differences in results and regulations. Originally targeted towards end users, PEF and EPD have slightly different focuses, with considerations for adjusting the user interface based on the recipient being an end user or a company.
In collaboration with The Norwegian Seafood Federation, our focus initially shifted towards the equipment segment within the industry, rather than fish itself. This decision was driven by the ease of implementing EPDs for equipment. While uncertainties linger around the methodology and environmental documentation for fish, The Norwegian Seafood Federation is taking charge of developing the Marine fish PEFCR. This initiative aims to establish a unified set of regulations for determining the environmental impact of marine fish products, encompassing both catch-based and farmed varieties. Working closely with stakeholders in the food production and consumption value chain, this project aligns with the European Commission’s vision for comprehensive coverage of feed and fish production within the PEF framework. Furthermore, EPDs have the potential to enhance various activities and products across the value chain.
One of the hurdles we encountered was the absence of Product Category Rules (PCR). These vital documents outline the rules, guidelines, and methods for crafting environmental declarations for specific product categories. PCRs play a crucial role in the EPD creation process, ensuring that environmental declarations are developed consistently, comparably, and credibly within the same category. EPD Norway took the lead in formulating PCR 031 for Seabased Infrastructure, aligning this effort with the EPD generator development for The Norwegian Seafood Federation. The collaborative working group included representatives from key industry players such as Nova Sea, Grieg Seafood, AKVA group, Scale Aquaculture, Nofir, Retura, Asplan Viak, LCA.no, and EPD-Norge.
EPD is particularly important in the seafood industry
One key benefit is its versatility across various industries. The growing emphasis on environmental standards within fish farming is undeniable. Recent media coverage has shed light on shortcomings in fish welfare and sustainability, highlighting the crucial need for environmentally sound practices. It is imperative for the industry to take a proactive approach, as this can lead to a competitive edge on a global scale. While the seafood sector may be lagging behind in quantifying environmental impacts at a product level, many farming companies are already engaging in climate reporting, positioning EPD as a valuable ally in this effort..
EPD software plays a crucial role in enhancing sustainability and transparency within the industry
By allowing prepared EPDs and PCRs to be utilized across various countries, the EPD software promotes a global approach to sustainability and transparency. While the PCR is accessible to users worldwide at no cost, the EPD software must be purchased to streamline the process. The standardized, objective, and comparable nature of EPDs fosters a sense of collaboration on an international scale, ultimately paving the way for increased cooperation among industry professionals.
Trends or challenges that will affect the use of EPD in the seafood industry
There are still uncertainties regarding the requirements for the method for calculating environmental impacts that the EU will put in the legislation that is now being developed, even though PEF seems to be prioritized by the Commission. This lack of clarity means that many companies are unsure of what they should choose in terms of environmental documentation. Companies need harmonized environmental documentation with predictable and clear rules to build a coherent environmental accounting system. An alternative could be to start with EPD and not wait for the clarification about PEF. The regulations around EPD are clear, and if it turns out to be a standardization of the more comprehensive framework, PEF, then the companies benefit from completed EPDs anyway. They can be included in the total documentation. An example: If PEF is chosen as the standard for fish production, EPDs on equipment, vessels and roe can be included as part of the overall documentation. Also remember that PEF is basically environmental documentation for the EU market, while EPD is 100% international.
How national and international authorities use incentives and fees can also affect the extent of use of EPD within the seafood industry. The seafood industry is a global industry, and there is hope that we can have international standards to deal with. By using a digital tool for environmental documentation, a global company can digitally share its environmental documentation throughout the value chain: Environmental documentation from an equipment and feed supplier can be used as environmental documentation for the salmon farmer. The salmon farmer can then share his environmental documentation with the fish processor and distributor. We believe that digital environmental documentation that can be added and “tracks” the product throughout the entire value chain will be very useful for the industry and the end customer in the future.
Take advantage of being an early adopter and gain valuable insights
When we spoke to Gaspard for his insights into the seafood industry, he emphasized the importance of forward-thinking companies seizing the opportunity to gain a competitive edge by starting early: By initiating the process now, you not only acquire valuable insights but also invaluable experience. The Norwegian Seafood Federation highlights the significance of prioritizing PEF, especially concerning fish and feed. Therefore, the recommendation is to focus on PEF in these specific areas, while EPD remains highly relevant in other aspects of the seafood industry, says Gaspard.
The seafood industry is intricate, with numerous factors driving the potential adoption of PEF and EPD as future standards. These standards serve as pivotal examples of environmental documentation, illustrating how the groundwork laid with EPD can seamlessly transition into a forthcoming PEF standard. By embarking on this journey now, companies stand to gain invaluable insights, expertise, and experience that will prove invaluable in the long run.
In various sectors, the public sector tends to be ahead of the private market, especially in terms of environmental initiatives. Public authorities are actively promoting environmental criteria in their procurement processes. This focus extends to the procurement of food items in Norway, where environmental considerations must make up 30% of the criteria starting from 1 January 2024. While the private sector may be slower to adapt, it is gradually moving in the same direction.
We thank Gaspard for sharing his experience and insight with us.