OCE-B.18.C - Traceability Implementation Plan
Does the company have an implementation plan, including key milestones, to achieve its traceability commitment?
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**:
Disclose sufficient information to determine that a robust plan is implemented, including clear milestones to achieve the company's traceability commitment, including monitoring and reporting progress on implementing this plan.
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**:
Disclose sufficient information to determine that a robust plan is implemented, including clear milestones to achieve the company's traceability commitment, including monitoring and reporting progress on implementing this plan.
License
Topics
Framework Mappings
Value Type
Category
Options
Yes
No
Assessment
Steward Assessed
Report Type
Aggregate Data Report