January 31, 2018
Thai Union's sustainability director recognised at London awards event
Thai Union Group PCL's global director for sustainable development, Dr. Darian McBain, was named "Sustainability Leader of the Year" at the prestigious edie Sustainability Leaders Awards in London, UK.
The awards celebrated sustainability excellence and innovation, from the largest multi-national businesses to the smallest micro-organisations. The event convened finalists ranging from global brands to SMEs, and public-sector organisations to innovative start-ups.
Dr. McBain's role in establishing and implementing SeaChange® - Thai Union's sustainability strategy - along with numerous initiatives and activities in line with SeaChange®, helped catapult her into the top spot among the nine finalists for edie's "Sustainability Leader of the Year".
The judges cited Thai Union's Business Ethics and Labor Code of Conduct, Ethical Migrant Recruitment Policy, Zero Recruitment Fee Policy and membership in the Seafood Business for Ocean Stewardship (SeaBOS) global initiative as evidence of the company's position at the forefront of positive change in the seafood industry.
Judges were also impressed with Dr. McBain's role in launching Thai Union's new tuna strategy, which included a commitment to sourcing 100% of branded tuna from fisheries that are Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified or engaged in Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs), which move them toward MSC certification.
"Darian is everything you would want in a sustainability leader. She has worked tirelessly right across the business, socially and environmentally, and has had a huge, tangible impact. And this isn't just incremental change; Darian has ignited a global shift in thinking around sustainability within the seafood sector," the judging panel stated.
"The award is personally an honor and a recognition of a truly remarkable year for Thai Union, full of tremendous achievements in sustainability which are the result of the hard work of a lot of people," said McBain. "Looking ahead, we will continue working to make progress and maintain focus on leveraging our leadership position and ability to collaborate to address the sustainability challenges confronting the global seafood industry."
