OCE-B.18.A - Value Chain Traceability Support Disclosure
Does the company disclose how it supports traceability along the value chain?
About the data
The WBA Ocean Benchmark measures and ranks the world's most influential companies on their efforts to halt and reverse nature loss in marine ecosystems, tracking how companies manage their impacts on ocean biodiversity, marine habitats, and the communities and workers dependent on healthy seas. The 2026 edition is WBA's first Ocean Benchmark, assessing 125 companies across key sectors dependent on oceans, including seafood, maritime transport, offshore wind energy, shipbuilding, port operations, apparel, and chemicals. Companies are assessed on 47 indicators across four measurement areas: governance, ecosystems and biodiversity, social responsibility, and core social indicators. The benchmark builds on WBA's Nature Benchmark and the former Seafood Stewardship Index, and its methodology was developed with input from more than 50 stakeholders including ocean communities, companies, scientists and civil society, with human rights and social impacts kept at its core alongside nature-specific concerns. More information can be found here.
Methodology
Traceability, the ability to monitor products and materials (marine and/or terrestrial)
throughout their lifecycle, is a foundational element of sustainability. It enables companies to identify
and mitigate environmental, social, and economic risks while promoting transparency and
accountability. Traceability is legally required in some sectors but regulations have gaps, including
limited product coverage and weak verification mechanisms (EJF and WWF, 2020; Oceana, PEW and
WWF, 2016).
To address these shortcomings, companies are expected to implement robust traceability systems
that verify products across their supply chains. Stakeholders, including buyers and regulators, demand
clear evidence of traceability to origins, such as fisheries, farms or factories, supported by accurate
data on production methods, sustainability practices, and compliance. These systems also help
achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) like responsible consumption (SDG 12) and
sustainable marine resource use (SDG 14). This indicator has been adapted from the Seafood
Traceability Engagement (FAIRR, 2024) and SSI indicators C1 and C2 (WBA SSI, 2023).
Research Guidance:
The company must do one of the following:
Provide a description of traceability systems that are in place, which includes at least an explanation of how the company traces products. The system may be electronic (e.g. using blockchain, RFID tags) or paper-based. A company only mentioning that they have a traceability system without a description or explanation is not enough.
Disclose the key data elements (KDEs) that they collect. KDEs are crucial pieces of information used in traceability systems to track the movement and history of products through the supply chain (e.g. traceability lot code, date of harvesting, location of extraction, supplier information)
Engage with others in their value chain to support traceability (e.g. by doing supplier audits, collaboration on data sharing, or joint initiatives to improve traceability). The company must mention concrete outcomes being achieved.
Collaborate with NGOs or industry initiatives focused on traceability (e.g. Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, or Responsible Cobalt Initiative). The company must mention concrete outcomes being achieved.
Disclose the identity of their direct and indirect suppliers.
throughout their lifecycle, is a foundational element of sustainability. It enables companies to identify
and mitigate environmental, social, and economic risks while promoting transparency and
accountability. Traceability is legally required in some sectors but regulations have gaps, including
limited product coverage and weak verification mechanisms (EJF and WWF, 2020; Oceana, PEW and
WWF, 2016).
To address these shortcomings, companies are expected to implement robust traceability systems
that verify products across their supply chains. Stakeholders, including buyers and regulators, demand
clear evidence of traceability to origins, such as fisheries, farms or factories, supported by accurate
data on production methods, sustainability practices, and compliance. These systems also help
achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) like responsible consumption (SDG 12) and
sustainable marine resource use (SDG 14). This indicator has been adapted from the Seafood
Traceability Engagement (FAIRR, 2024) and SSI indicators C1 and C2 (WBA SSI, 2023).
Research Guidance:
The company must do one of the following:
Provide a description of traceability systems that are in place, which includes at least an explanation of how the company traces products. The system may be electronic (e.g. using blockchain, RFID tags) or paper-based. A company only mentioning that they have a traceability system without a description or explanation is not enough.
Disclose the key data elements (KDEs) that they collect. KDEs are crucial pieces of information used in traceability systems to track the movement and history of products through the supply chain (e.g. traceability lot code, date of harvesting, location of extraction, supplier information)
Engage with others in their value chain to support traceability (e.g. by doing supplier audits, collaboration on data sharing, or joint initiatives to improve traceability). The company must mention concrete outcomes being achieved.
Collaborate with NGOs or industry initiatives focused on traceability (e.g. Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, or Responsible Cobalt Initiative). The company must mention concrete outcomes being achieved.
Disclose the identity of their direct and indirect suppliers.
License
Topics
Framework Mappings
Value Type
Category
Options
Yes
No
Assessment
Steward Assessed
Report Type
Aggregate Data Report