OCE-B.18.B - Traceability Public Commitment
Does the company have a public commitment to traceability at the group or subsidiary level?
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:
For this element to be met, the company must:
Refer to a commitment to the traceability of their products and/or materials without specifying how traceability is implemented or which traceability programmes are applied.
This indicator focuses on the traceability commitments of companies at the group or subsidiary level of products and materials.
In the case of seafood commitments to the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) a standard that promotes electronic and interoperable traceability across the value chain in the seafood industry (also see C1 indicator rationale in the SSI methodology and GDST website).
Company statements that refer to traceability as legal compliance are not accepted.
Example: Austevoll's reference to traceability and traceable seafood and feed (p27, 37, 46 2023 sustainability report).
Types of traceability of materials in the Maritime sector:
1\. Hazardous Materials (HazMat) and Dangerous Goods
Fuel and Lubricants: Monitoring bunker fuels, including low-sulfur fuels, biofuels, and alternative fuels like LNG and methanol.
Chemical Substances: Substances transported under the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code.
Batteries and Electronics: Lithium-ion batteries, e-waste, and other hazardous electronics requiring proper disposal.
2\. Shipbuilding and Maintenance Materials
Steel and Structural Components: Ensuring the sourcing of responsibly recycled or certified green steel.
Paints and Coatings: Monitoring anti-fouling coatings and other chemical applications to prevent marine pollution.
Ballast Water Treatment Systems: Ensuring compliance with the Ballast Water Management Convention to prevent invasive species transfer.
3\. Waste and Recycling Materials
Scrap Metal from Decommissioned Ships: Tracking ship recycling processes under regulations like the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC).
Plastic Waste and Marine Debris: Traceability of plastic waste and microplastics to ensure responsible disposal.
4\. Cargo and Supply Chain Materials
Containerized Goods: Tracking perishable items, pharmaceuticals, and high-value cargo using IoT-based traceability solutions.
Illegal or Restricted Trade Items: Ensuring compliance with CITES regulations on endangered species, illegal timber, and wildlife products.
5\. Crew Safety and Protective Equipment
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Traceability of safety gear to ensure compliance with ILO and IMO safety standards.
Life-saving Equipment: Monitoring maintenance and certification of lifeboats, fire suppression systems, and emergency response kits.
6\. Sustainable Fuel and Energy Sources
Biofuels and Green Methanol: Certification and traceability of alternative marine fuels under EU Fuel EU Maritime and IMO GHG regulations.
Carbon Credits and Offsetting Materials: Tracking emissions reductions and sustainable initiatives for compliance with global carbon neutrality goals.
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:
For this element to be met, the company must:
Refer to a commitment to the traceability of their products and/or materials without specifying how traceability is implemented or which traceability programmes are applied.
This indicator focuses on the traceability commitments of companies at the group or subsidiary level of products and materials.
In the case of seafood commitments to the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) a standard that promotes electronic and interoperable traceability across the value chain in the seafood industry (also see C1 indicator rationale in the SSI methodology and GDST website).
Company statements that refer to traceability as legal compliance are not accepted.
Example: Austevoll's reference to traceability and traceable seafood and feed (p27, 37, 46 2023 sustainability report).
Types of traceability of materials in the Maritime sector:
1\. Hazardous Materials (HazMat) and Dangerous Goods
Fuel and Lubricants: Monitoring bunker fuels, including low-sulfur fuels, biofuels, and alternative fuels like LNG and methanol.
Chemical Substances: Substances transported under the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code.
Batteries and Electronics: Lithium-ion batteries, e-waste, and other hazardous electronics requiring proper disposal.
2\. Shipbuilding and Maintenance Materials
Steel and Structural Components: Ensuring the sourcing of responsibly recycled or certified green steel.
Paints and Coatings: Monitoring anti-fouling coatings and other chemical applications to prevent marine pollution.
Ballast Water Treatment Systems: Ensuring compliance with the Ballast Water Management Convention to prevent invasive species transfer.
3\. Waste and Recycling Materials
Scrap Metal from Decommissioned Ships: Tracking ship recycling processes under regulations like the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC).
Plastic Waste and Marine Debris: Traceability of plastic waste and microplastics to ensure responsible disposal.
4\. Cargo and Supply Chain Materials
Containerized Goods: Tracking perishable items, pharmaceuticals, and high-value cargo using IoT-based traceability solutions.
Illegal or Restricted Trade Items: Ensuring compliance with CITES regulations on endangered species, illegal timber, and wildlife products.
5\. Crew Safety and Protective Equipment
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Traceability of safety gear to ensure compliance with ILO and IMO safety standards.
Life-saving Equipment: Monitoring maintenance and certification of lifeboats, fire suppression systems, and emergency response kits.
6\. Sustainable Fuel and Energy Sources
Biofuels and Green Methanol: Certification and traceability of alternative marine fuels under EU Fuel EU Maritime and IMO GHG regulations.
Carbon Credits and Offsetting Materials: Tracking emissions reductions and sustainable initiatives for compliance with global carbon neutrality goals.
License
Topics
Framework Mappings
Value Type
Category
Options
Yes
No
Assessment
Steward Assessed
Report Type
Aggregate Data Report