Wild Planet Wild Albacore Tuna

Scanned March 2026 · food · high confidence

Wild Planet is a true leader in sustainable seafood, and their claims are backed by solid practices. They genuinely prioritize responsible fishing methods, which is the biggest environmental concern for tuna. While they're still working on publicly sharing their full carbon footprint, their commitment to what truly matters in their industry is commendable.

How do the five signals break down?

Each signal is worth 20 points — the method is public at how we score.

What is on the label?

Primary claim: "sustainably caught, pole and line, non-GMO" — a claim, not a certification. The difference is the whole game: see the cert guide.

What the claims cover

• Exclusive use of highly selective "pole and line" fishing, which significantly minimizes harm to other marine life (bycatch).
• Strong alignment with Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch's "Best Choice" or "Good Alternative" ratings for their sourcing.
• Full traceability of their fish from the boat to your shelf, ensuring you know where your food comes from.
• Commitment to recyclable, BPA-non-intent packaging for their canned products.

What is still missing

• Detailed carbon footprint (Scope 1, 2, and especially 3): Many companies, especially in complex supply chains like food, find it challenging to measure and report the full environmental impact from farms, ingredients, and transportation. It's a huge undertaking, and while Wild Planet is "evaluating," it's not yet public.
• Specific water usage metrics: Similar to carbon, tracking water use across a global supply chain is complex and often not prioritized for public reporting unless it's a water-intensive product.
• Third-party verification for "Non-GMO": While the claim is likely true for wild-caught fish, a certification like Non-GMO Project Verified would add an extra layer of trust for consumers.

Where the footprint lives

Scope 1 — direct operations: Scope 1 is about what a company burns directly, like the fuel in their own fishing boats or the energy used in their processing plants.

Scope 2 — purchased energy: Scope 2 covers the energy a company buys to run its operations, like electricity for their offices or factories.

Scope 3 — the supply chain: Scope 3 is the big one – it's all the indirect emissions from their entire supply chain, like the fuel used by their suppliers' boats, the energy to make the cans, or the impact of the fish's diet. This is usually 70-90% of a product's total impact and is often the hardest for companies to track and report.

Most of a product's emissions sit upstream in Scope 3 — the scope breakdown explains why that decides the score.

Smart swaps and tips

• Always look for "pole and line" or "troll caught" when buying tuna, as these are the most selective and least impactful fishing methods.
• Check the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch guide for other seafood choices to make informed decisions.
• Support brands that are transparent about their sourcing and fishing practices, as this encourages better industry standards.
• Remember to recycle your tuna cans – aluminum and steel are highly recyclable materials!

Numbers from a scan of the real label, March 2026. Holding this product — or its shelf neighbor? Scan it and compare the five signals side by side. New to the method? Start with the rules of thumb.