Operating a digital platform that connects consumers and restaurants directly with local, low-impact fishermen, enabling the purchase of fresh fish and promoting sustainable fishing practices.
About
Blue Lobster, located in Copenhagen, Denmark, operates a digital marketplace that revolutionises the seafood industry by focusing on sustainable and fresh fish consumption. Their principal service is an app which connects local, low-impact fishermen directly with restaurants and consumers. This method bypasses traditional supply chain stages, ensuring fresher seafood and supporting small-scale fishermen with fair pricing, thereby promoting sustainable fishing practices. Blue Lobster was established following a realization by our founders, Nima Tisdall and Christine Hebert, about the lack of access to truly fresh fish in Denmark. They identified a significant gap in the market, given Denmark's reputation for environmental and sustainable practices and its easy coastal access. Our business journey began as a part of the Climate Launchpad 2019, a platform that significantly influenced our development. The initial success came from establishing a direct link between local fishermen and consumers, bypassing the lengthy traditional supply chain. This approach not only provided fresher fish to consumers but also supported the financial stability of small-scale fishermen. A key turning point for Blue Lobster was the development and launch of our digital platform. This innovation was pivotal in connecting restaurants and consumers directly with local, low-impact fishermen, which was a novel approach in the seafood industry. It marked our transition from a concept to a functional business making a real impact. Since then, we have been successfully expanding our reach in Copenhagen and exploring opportunities for international growth.
Sustainable Development
At Blue Lobster, our most sustainable endeavour is our digital marketplace, linking local, low-impact fishermen directly with restaurants and consumers. This platform significantly lessens the environmental footprint typically associated with the seafood supply chain. By enabling the sale of sustainably caught fish, we contribute to marine ecosystem preservation and endorse environmentally responsible fishing practices. Our dedication to sustainable development is continuous. We regularly explore innovative solutions to boost sustainability in the seafood industry. This involves adapting to market demands and leveraging new technologies to further lessen our environmental impact. In recent years, we've implemented key sustainability solutions. The most notable is our app's launch, which ensures transparency and traceability in seafood sourcing. This is crucial for sustainable consumption. Moreover, our business model inherently supports sustainable fishermen by providing a fair and viable market. These efforts have established us as a leader in sustainability within the Copenhagen seafood market, demonstrating our commitment to environmental responsibility and innovative approaches in promoting sustainable fishing practices.
Sustainability Impact
Sustainable development is not just a part of our operations at Blue Lobster; it is the heart of our business ethos. It positively impacts every aspect of our operations, guiding our decisions and strategies. Our entire business model is built around the concept of sustainability, particularly in promoting and facilitating the sale of sustainably caught fish. This focus on sustainability has been fundamental in establishing our brand identity and appeal, especially among environmentally conscious consumers and restaurants. Sustainability is a significant aspect within our company, ingrained in our corporate culture and embraced by every team member. While we do not have a dedicated department solely for sustainability, the responsibility for implementing and coordinating adherence to sustainable development principles is a collective effort, deeply embedded in our management's vision and operations. Our founders, Nima Tisdall and Christine Hebert, play a pivotal role in ensuring these principles are at the forefront. Additionally, each employee is encouraged to contribute ideas and actions towards our sustainable practices, making it a company-wide commitment rather than the responsibility of a single individual or department. This collective approach ensures that sustainability remains a core focus in everything we do at Blue Lobster.
SDGs goals and Sustainable development strategy
Goal 12. Responsible Consumption and Production: We at Blue Lobster are deeply committed to ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns. Our digital platform promotes the consumption of sustainably caught fish, directly sourced from local fishermen. This approach minimises waste and encourages responsible production in the seafood industry. We continuously work towards reducing our operational footprint and encouraging our partners and customers to do the same.
Goal 13. Climate Action: Climate action is intrinsic to our mission. By promoting sustainable fishing practices, we contribute to reducing the negative impacts of fishing on the marine environment. This includes mitigating practices like bottom trawling that can be detrimental to marine ecosystems. Our business model inherently supports the fight against climate change by prioritising low-impact fishing methods.
Goal 14. Life Below Water: Conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas, and marine resources is at the core of what we do. Blue Lobster was founded on the principle of supporting sustainable fishing practices. We collaborate with fishermen who use low-impact gear, reducing damage to the ocean floor and by-catch. By creating a market for sustainably caught fish, we incentivise fishermen to adopt practices that are less harmful to marine life.
Innovative approaches &Challenges
The primary challenge was restructuring the traditional seafood supply chain. The conventional system is entrenched with various intermediaries, leading to inefficiencies, increased carbon footprint, and often, unsustainable fishing practices. Our solution was the development of a digital platform that directly connects fishermen with consumers and restaurants. This innovation required not only technological development but also a shift in mindset for both fishermen and consumers, who were accustomed to the traditional supply chain The business environment and our stakeholders indeed impose more adaptations. For example, as we expanded our reach, we faced the challenge of maintaining the freshness of fish while reducing our carbon footprint. To address this, we developed a logistics system that optimises delivery routes, thereby minimising travel distances and emissions. Additionally, stakeholder feedback has led us to prioritise transparency in our supply chain. We adapted by incorporating features in our app that allow consumers to trace the origin of their purchased seafood, providing details about the catch, the fishing method used, and the individual fishermen. This level of transparency not only aligns with our sustainability ethos but also builds trust with our customers.
Impact Evaluation
We track several key indicators to evaluate our sustainability impact. These include: Carbon Footprint Reduction: We calculate the emissions saved by eliminating intermediary steps in the seafood supply chain and optimizing delivery routes. Fishermen's Economic Stability: We monitor the financial benefits reaped by local fishermen due to fair pricing and direct access to the market. Customer Satisfaction and Awareness: Through surveys and app analytics, we gauge customer satisfaction levels and their awareness of sustainable seafood. Seafood Freshness and Quality: We assess the quality and freshness of the fish sold through our platform, a direct indicator of reduced time from catch to consumer. These indicators are monitored continuously, with detailed reviews conducted on a quarterly basis. Our sustainability team, in collaboration with other departments such as logistics and customer relations, is responsible for this monitoring. They ensure that data is accurately collected, analyzed, and used to inform future business decisions.
