Seafood producer Thai Union Group has announced that it is scaling its shrimp decarbonisation efforts by promoting collaboration between industry, government, and the finance sector.
At the recent UN Global Compact Thailand Expo 2025, Thai Union, the owner of brands such as John West and Chicken of the Sea, hosted a panel to discuss how ‘blue finance’ – financial mechanisms that support ocean-based sustainability – can encourage shrimp farmers to adopt lower-emission practices and embrace a net-zero future.
That event, Blue Financing and Aquaculture: Empowering the Sustainability Transition, welcomed representatives from the seafood industry, financial institutions, government agencies, and farming sectors.
Sustainability commitment
“As a global leader in the seafood industry, Thai Union is committed to driving sustainability across the sector through a range of initiatives,” commented Yongyut Setthawiwat, managing director, group treasurer, Thai Union Group. “One of our key priorities is reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Thailand’s aquaculture industry.
“We believe that Blue Finance – financial investments that support sustainable activities related to the ocean and aquatic ecosystems – will be a key enabler in unlocking the resources needed across all sectors to accelerate the adoption of knowledge, innovation, and technology to promote sustainability throughout the industry’s supply chain and support the growth of the Blue Economy.”
Net-zero goals
Thai Union has set the target of achieving net zero across its production network by 2050, and among its early achievements are the development of renewable energy systems, energy efficiency upgrades, and farm technologies designed to lower environmental impact.
Shrimp produced under the business’ decarbonisation programme has already gone on sale in the US under the Chicken of the Sea brand (pictured), while Thai Union has also partnered with organisations and businesses such as The Nature Conservancy, Ahold Delhaize USA, and Whole Foods Market.
“We’re not just talking about change, we’re building the ecosystem to make it happen,” Setthawiwat added. “This is Thailand’s opportunity to lead. But to succeed, we need everyone at the table: farmers, banks, regulators, scientists. That’s how we’ll scale to this initiative to hundreds of farms and create a model the world can follow.” Read more here.
