Giving respect to nature is part of our mission. We are still learning what sustainability means in practice when it comes to canned seafood. And it should be no secret that our ambitions are higher than our achievements. However, here you can read about how far we have come so far:
The fish
Most of our fish and shellfish are wild caught and have lived their lives in Nordic oceans and fjords. Although our catch is MSC certified which secures some level of sustainability, all fishing on an industrial scale has an impact on nature. So we cannot offer you a food product that leaves no footprint (or watermark ;-)
However, some species come closer than others: Mussels are practically CO2 neutral. And small fish such as our Nordic sardines (‘brisling’) also contribute to a healthier diet, both from a nutritional and sustainability perspective. Therefore, we have given these species priority in our range.
Yet, we also consider salmon and trout natural in a balanced Nordic diet. Ours are from ASC certified farms, but as with fisheries, all farming has an impact at some level. So remember to eat your mussels and small fish too! Still, seafood in general, including salmon and trout, is by most sources recognized as a more sustainable food source than any meats.
The oil and herbs
All other ingredients are certified organic. The cold pressed oil made with rapeseed from Danish and Swedish farmers, and the herbs from our small importer on the Isle of Funen.
The packaging
The wonderful thing about ‘canning’ seafood is that the final product has a very long shelf life at room temperature. It makes the risk of food waste extremely low which can otherwise be quite substantial for seafood. And there is no energy needed to keep the cans cool or to heat up the content before serving.
Our aluminium cans are 100% recyclable. They do not degrade during the process and can be recycled time and time again. One ‘cycle’ requires only about 5% of the energy of making a new can. Just remember to sort and discard the cans as metal, and our boxes (made from FSC certified cardboard) as carton, after use.
Sustainability is a complex matter, and there is a lot more to it than we have managed to focus on so far. Feel free to share your thoughts and insights, or ask for more details and we will try to provide them as far as we can: fangst@fangst.com