Greenpeace obtained the information in the ranking from the companies through a standardized survey, correspondence, publicly available information, and in-store surveys. We scored the companies based on their performance in the following key areas:
Does the company have a written sustainability and equitability policy with clearly defined canned tuna sourcing requirements that address the key issues outlined below?
Does the tuna come from stocks that are healthy and not overfished or being fished beyond their ability to rejuvenate?
Is the tuna traceable from sea to can to store shelf? Are audits conducted to ensure the information is accurate?
Is the tuna caught using methods that avoid catching other marine life like sharks and turtles and baby tuna? Or is it caught using indiscriminate fishing methods such as conventional longlines and purse seines employing fish aggregating devices (FADs)?
How easy is it for customers to know what is in the can? Can they find additional product information elsewhere without searching too hard?
Are proposed and existing marine reserves avoided by tuna fisheries sourced from? Is the company proactive in improving the industry, lessening its impact, and addressing the challenges our oceans face?
Does the company know who is catching its tuna and how they are being treated? Is it committed to ensuring the well-being of workers throughout its supply chain? Is it actively working to stop forced labor?
Can a company guarantee that its tuna supply chain does not include operators that engage in illegal activities that undermine fisheries management and exacerbate the overfishing crisis?