Sustainability

The uses of seaweeds for food, health and body care, as well as a range of other industries, are increasing and with billions of dollars invested globally in developing these industries further.

The environmental and regulatory pressures for compliance to standards of practice and quality are as fundamental to the development of a sustainable seaweed industry in Britain as they are to any other sector of the economy.

Seaweeds can offer benefits of sustainability over terrestrial plants which include:

• No requirement for freshwater
• No competition for land used for other crops or for natural habitat
• In the UK, seaweed harvest is regulated to ensure sustainable practice
• Supporting local industries

One of our members, Hebridean Seaweed Company won a Crown Estate Business Award, being commended for their sustainable approach

As such, seaweeds can meet many of the regulatory, consumer and social responsibility aspirations of organisations and individuals.

Our work is to ensure this sustainable good practice can continue, and improve, as the seaweed industries grow around the world and increasing utilise cultivated seaweeds.

We work with organisations to help them understand and develop sustainable good practice, and the benefits seaweeds have in terms of environment, social and economic sustainability.