“Our product packaging has exceeded the group’s objectives and has reached 92% recycled plastic”
Mowi is a company founded in 1964 in Norway, specialising in salmon farming. With more than 10.000 employees, it distributes its products in more than 70 countries. In Spain, Mowi has more than 300 employees located in its production centre in Zaragoza.
Mowi has more than 50 years of experience. What characterizes its salmon?
At Mowi, we have been caring for salmon for decades, following an environmentally friendly model, respecting its natural growth time, recreating its natural habitat and promoting its well-being. In addition, we have the entire value chain integrated, which allows us to guarantee greater traceability in our products. In this sense, for example, we are the only company that produces its own feed from marine ingredients, cereals and vegetables, in order to ensure the highest quality and the best flavour of the product.
Our salmon is characterised by its freshness, flavour and nutritional value, guaranteed thanks to strict quality controls at every stage of the process, from farming to delivery to the customer. The combination of our sustainable practices and technology allows us to offer a superior product that meets the expectations of the most demanding consumers.
You offer natural salmon, but also cooked… Have you thought about introducing any other product or a different variety?
At Mowi we are constantly innovating to meet the needs and preferences of consumers. Our goal is to offer ready-made solutions that help them introduce salmon into their diet in a simple way. In this sense, this year we have expanded our range of Mowi salmon cooked at low temperature with a new reference, the natural flavour, which is added to the references with aromatic herbs and the three peppers.
This range has been awarded the Top Innovation 2024 Taste of the Year seal for all three products, a recognition that certifies the flavour and quality of the products.
In how many countries are you present and how long have you been in Spain?
We currently market our seafood products in more than 70 countries around the world. Mowi is present in 26 of them, including: Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Canada, the United States, Norway and Sweden, among others.
We entered Spain just 3 years ago and, due to the great reception our product has had in the country, our plans include promoting the development of this market to strengthen our presence.
By 2025, 100% of your plastic packaging will be reusable, recyclable or compostable. How do you plan to achieve this goal?
To achieve our goal of having 100% of our packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025, we have developed a comprehensive strategy focused on researching new sustainable materials and implementing circular economy practices.
We collaborate with suppliers, sustainability experts and emerging technology companies to constantly explore innovative packaging solutions. We have also implemented processes and tools to share knowledge and best practices across our operations.
Today, your packaging is already 92% made from recycled and recyclable plastic. Tell us about the material you use.
Our product packaging has exceeded the group's targets and reached 92% recycled plastic. We have used the percentage of plastic packaging made from polymeric monomaterials as an indicator of recyclability, as this type of packaging can be fully recyclable because all its layers are made from the same type of plastic.
How can they be recycled later?
The containers are taken to recycling centres where they are sorted by type of material, colour, etc. They are then crushed into very small pieces and washed, removing any impurities they may contain. The final product is plastic flakes suitable for later use.
What plastic savings has this change meant?
In the film that seals the trays we have managed to reduce the thickness by 50%.
Have you analyzed the carbon footprint of your packaging?
There is an improvement when producing containers, since being a single material, it greatly facilitates productivity, reducing intermediate steps.
What other actions are you implementing at the packaging level?
We try to optimize all processes, from logistics, storage, and standardization of formats. We use more sustainable materials (for example paper instead of plastic) that are easier to recycle.
And in favour of sustainable salmon fishing?
Aquaculture is the most sustainable way of producing animal protein. In particular, the carbon footprint of salmon farming is low, as is the consumption of fresh water, compared to other industries such as meat or dairy. Aquaculture can prevent overexploitation of natural fishing grounds and ensure sustainable consumption in the long term.
At Mowi, sustainability is part of our DNA, and to achieve this, we incorporate measures throughout the entire value chain: from breeding, feed and the water in which our salmon live to our production and processing facilities to ensure the best environmental performance.
What certifications do you have and why did you decide to obtain them?
At Mowi, we integrate sustainability throughout the entire value chain as one of our strategic pillars, which is why we have been recognized as the “most responsible breeder in the world” by the Coller Fairr index for the fifth consecutive year. This analysis, one of the most exhaustive in the world and the main source of reference in the field of sustainability, evaluates environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors.
What are your next projects?
At Mowi we are focused on several future projects, including the continuous improvement of our production practices. We are investing in new technologies to optimize our supply chain and further reduce our environmental impact.
In addition, we will continue working to offer new solutions that help incorporate salmon into consumers' diets.
