Unilever almost makes its target

Unilever has confirmed it will miss its self-imposed target of sourcing all fish from sustainable sources by 2005. It claims instead to be on course to source three-quarters of its supplies sustainably by that date.

The consumer products group, one of the world’s biggest fish buyers, says it has struggled to meet the goal, set in 1996, because it takes a long time to certify a fishery as sustainable. Nevertheless, Jonathon Porritt, founder of the sustainable development NGO Forum for the Future, said Unilever had made ‘serious progress’ on the issue.