Our raw material comes from boats that practice responsible fishery; in addition to caring for and protecting our marine resources, our fishers are concerned with preserving them in order to maintain their natural cycle. We have taken a critical approach to the ocean’s sustainability, supporting our policies on international standards for guided fishery. We support not only the economy and progress of local communities, but also the professional and personal growth of our employees.
Sustainability
Environment
WASTE-FREE BEACHES
The sea is a huge source of resources and it is our duty, and everyone’s duty, to protect it. What better way to contribute to its sustainability than to have our employees cleaning the beaches, recycling and collecting regular waste? Year after year since 2010, we have been programming activities to offset our environmental footprint, and we have now completed more than 14 beach cleanups in Costa Rica. We have also conducted three tree-planting events since 2015 in national areas.
WATER TREATMENT PLANT
We are committed to raising awareness on the protection of resources, and water is no exception. We have undertaken this task very seriously with effective environmentally sustainable practices that protect our rivers and oceans from waste. We have achieved this not only with our water treatment plant, which filters, processes and purifies up to 98% of the water we use for reuse in irrigating fields, but also in the production and saving of energy resources.
RAISING OUR FLAG FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
We have an ongoing commitment to continually improve our environmental indicators, and thanks to this we have been awarded the Ecological Blue Flag for four consecutive years. The Blue Flag program recognizes and encourages good environmental practices on the main consumption indicators: electricity, fuel, water, paper, refrigerants, waste management, staff training and community outreach activities.
Responsible Fishery
RESPONSIBLE SOURCES
To make sure our raw material comes from sources that respect closed seasons and other rules, we only buy our tuna from vessels registered before the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC). This supply network is the only fishery in the world with 100% onboard observers and divers who guarantee and certify that no species other than tuna are being caught.
RESPONSIBLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY FISHERY
Purse-seine fishing is a method aimed at ocean sustainability. It is used for catching fish that customarily swim in dense schools or shoals, such as sardines and tuna. The method is environmentally friendly, since it helps preserve other ocean species such as dolphins and turtles by ensuring they’re not trapped in the net. We also purchase FAD-free and pole-and-line-caught fish. For more information on this method, click here.
FISHING ZONES
Fishing vessels have to cover great distances to keep up with fish swimming in schools or shoals. Tonnino receives whole tuna from many fisheries, including those of the eastern and western Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans. We process species such as yellowfin, skipjack, bigeye and albacore tuna.
Social Commitment
COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION
Our company has a scholarship program to help youths with an outstanding academic performance in the hopes of laying the foundations for a promising future. We also donate books and help maintain the infrastructure of schools. To date, we have visited more than 227 schools in the Puntarenas area, delivering 110,000 books and donating more than 180,000 cans of tuna in one year alone.
INNER STRENGTH
Many of our employees do not have their own homes when they retire. We are working to improve this reality by giving a DIGNIFIED ROOF AND BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE to those who have dedicated their working life to us. Other significant company benefits include: SUBSIDIZED BALANCED MEAL in the company cafeteria; THE SOLIDARITY ASSOCIATION, which manages the diner service, generating additional jobs and greater well-being for all associates; OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH and EMERGENCY CARE BRIGADES to protect everyone’s physical integrity; and PREVENTIVE HEALTH CAMPAIGNS and MEDICAL CHECKUPS AND EXAMS.
DONATIONS
Since 1998, the company has been pitching in during emergencies in Central America by donating a truckload of product (96,000 cans of tuna) on each occasion. So we have lent a hand to the victims of hurricanes such as Mitch, Otto and Nate, as well as other tropical storms. Because the struggle and the work aren’t over, we have financially aided people with breast cancer (FUNDESO) and children with diseases (Teletón). We’ve also donated 19,200 cans of tuna to the Foundation Obras del Espíritu Santo.
Certifications
Our work has been recognized and evaluated by different entities at national and international level, who have certified us thanks to our responsible and sustainable practices over time for the protection of the environment, human health, that of our collaborators and social benefit, which has allowed us to export Tonnino to the rest of the world.