I’ve Got a Sustainably-Labeled Bridge I’d Like to Sell You

Lately, I feel like someone could slap a sticker on the Brooklyn Bridge that says, “This bridge is certified sustainable,” and we would just accept it. Since most of us have no idea what would make a bridge sustainable, we would have no way of knowing if it’s truly sustainable or not. Even if the Brooklyn Bridge were certified sustainable by, let’s say, the National Sustainable Bridge Inspection Association (NSBIA), we would need to inquire as to what standards were established for that certification and why. Most importantly, people we trust in the bridge business would all have to agree on those standards. They would also have to agree that those standards, if met, would allow a bridge to be certified sustainable. This all seems straightforward, yet we allow ambiguity to exist in the organic labeling of our food.  Look what’s been happening at the fish market…

When we buy fish at the store, many of us look for an eco-label or some sort of indication that the fish is certified “sustainable” or “environmentally friendly” by a trusted source. If we see a label, it’s easy to assume that a particular fish is caught or raised according to sustainable standards. Considering there are multiple certification programs that provide such labels, it can be helpful to learn something about their standards and how they are measured. In other words, how do we certify our certification programs?

Food & Water Watch has released a report called, De-Coding Seafood Eco-Labels: Why We Need Public Standards. This resource analyzes various private certification programs and the lack of existing national standards that has allowed these eco-labels to take over the fish market. Unfortunately, this research has concluded that many of these private eco-labels, including The Marine Stewardship Council, Global Aquaculture Alliance, and Friends of the Sea, might not represent what consumers expect. They are, however, collecting money for their certifications.

Consumers should be familiar with how eco-label standards are defined so we can be assured that they actually mean something.

So, read the report here, and then check out our 2010 Smart Seafood Guide to help you find seafood that’s good for the planet. It will surely give you something valuable to add to your upcoming holiday conversations about food.

-Rich Bindell