Angel Cheng from Ocean Brands Asks - Should Business Play a Role in Contributing to Society?
Can societal goals be truly aligned to corporate and commercial objectives? We asked Angel Cheng, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at international seafood supplier Ocean Brands. The answer, she says, while it is possible to separate the two, we recognize works needs to be done and we must align corporate and commercial objectives.
I attended an auditor training workshop for shrimp farms recently as part of my work with the Seafood Task Force, to better understand the vital work that is done on the ground and the challenges faced. The training was an opportunity for me to see what happens on the vessels and the farms as they work to improve working environments for the workers in our industry and the health of our oceans.
It was humbling and really helped me to appreciate the enormous task being undertaken in the shrimp supply chain, with different challenges to those in the tuna supply industry, but nonetheless complex and demanding.
It also gave me a very real sense of what the STF - and the commitment of all its members - is about. Fundamentally it means looking after the people who look after us. It is an intimate relationship that needs to be nurtured, not only because that’s the right thing to do - without workers we simply don’t have a business.
That commitment is inextricably linked to the wider relationship and responsibility we have for our planet. We’re taking from the oceans, so we need to take care of them and not just to sustain, but also to repair and give back. Once again, if we don’t, there will not be enough fish in the sea and we don’t have a business.
Our motivation and drive for sustainability is about people and planet and the positive impact we can contribute, but commercial benefit is an inexorable consequence of that commitment.
Decent working conditions, thriving fishing communities and sustainable sourcing are all prerequisites for success in this industry, so we can increase our positive impact on society and the environment whilst also increasing our profits and growing our business.
The question isn’t really should businesses play a role in contributing to society. We are part of society and the interactions we have with our teams, our suppliers and our customers will all make a contribution in some way. It’s how can we leverage our role to use business as a force for good.
We are so much greater than the sum of our parts, so getting together with fellow brands, major retailers and every part of the supply chain is a major benefit of working with the STF.
We get great industry insights on the issues we face and also valuable resources and tools to support improvements we request from our manufacturers. There is an incredible wealth of knowledge and talent within the Task Force, which increases my understanding of the industry and opens up tremendous opportunities for collaborating outside of everyday business.
The more members we have, of course, the greater the talent and skills base around the table and I hope more retailers and their suppliers will join us to add their weight to our collective industry impact.
Working together to align and recognise vital industry standards and protocols will benefit our businesses, our people and most importantly our planet.
- Angel Cheng is Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at Ocean Brands. Based in Canada, the company has been a member of the Seafood Task Force since 2020. B Corp certified, the company has pledged to source its ingredients sustainably and to become plastic-neutral. Its international product range includes seafood brands Ocean’s, Gold Seal and Millionaires, as well as an extensive range of pasta sauces, gourmet condiments and premium quality foods.
The views in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the STF.