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Pursuing Green Business Certification just made sense for Kanaloa Seafood, a company that has woven sustainability throughout their entire operation. Since their founding in 1983, environmental responsibility has been a driving force in their family-run seafood business. As they have grown into a fully integrated company including: 2 full-service restaurants, a wholesale division that supplies chefs and markets, and an online platform that ships products to homes nationwide, Kanaloa remains dedicated to being stewards of the environment and inspiring others to join them.

In 2003, Kanaloa Seafood was the first seafood company in North America to achieve ISO 14001 certification (a global standard for Environmental Management Systems). This is an impressive accomplishment, and Kanaloa receives environmental audits every 6 months –including evaluations of their suppliers – to ensure compliance. The more recent pursuit of the Green Business Certification was a localized approach that allows customers and partners to support sustainable seafood practices within their own community. The certification process encouraged further collaboration among more than 40 Kanaloa employees across several departments.

Kanaloa Seafood goes above and beyond to give back to the planet, and they have implemented several innovative approaches to reduce their environmental footprint. While their accomplishments are too numerous to list in one article, some of their efforts include: using refrigeration systems that are designed for optimal energy efficiency; installing motion-sensor LED lighting to reduce energy use throughout their facilities; partnering with Food Share of Ventura County to donate unsellable but perfectly edible seafood to local food recovery programs; participating in the local food scraps program to ensure inedible food waste is composted locally, helping to reduce methane emissions; and regularly training staff about food
waste reduction, proper waste sorting, and resource conservation.

The seafood industry has unique packaging requirements for shipping and receiving seafood to ensure food safety. Kanaloa utilizes eco-friendly packaging and made operational changes that focus on functionality and responsible disposal. Whether you visit one of Kanaloa’s restaurants,
enjoy a catered lunch, or receive a shipment to your home, you will notice packaging that can either be composted or recycled and kept out of the landfill.

While Kanaloa does not use Styrofoam to ship their products, they do still receive it from inbound shipments. To offset the environmental impacts, they take a proactive approach by recycling it onsite. A specialized compression machine reduces the volume of the Styrofoam, and the compacted material is sent to facilities that transform it into valuable products like insulation panels and other durable goods.

Kanaloa Seafood is grateful for the guidance offered by the Green Business Program that serves as a roadmap to drive meaningful changes. They encourage other local businesses to strive for certification and note that the environmental benefits empower employees and customers alike to take pride in their business. Even small changes can have a big impact! 

Written by: Sarah Stark from Marborg Industries