In 2008 Sea Watch International joined with companies like Heinz, Unilever, Nestle, Con Agra, General Mills, and Campbell Soup to become part of the solution instead of part of the problem. This project helps companies identify ways to reduce their carbon footprints while encouraging those up the supply chain to participate as well. This collaborative effort has the potential to change the way manufacturing is done in the later part of the 21st century. Sea Watch International is proud to take this stand for the environment.

Reduction of energy use is at the forefront of our “Green Initiative”. Implications cross many lines of conservation, pollution and cost savings. By investing in new technologies we have been able to dramatically reduce the amount of energy used to process a pound of meat.

As part of our energy initiative, we are also investigating alternative sources of energy for our manufacturing facilities. We have recently been working with a firm to evaluate solar energy for our largest processing plant in Milford, DE.

All Sea Watch boilers have been converted to natural gas to burn cleaner and cheaper.

After a successful trial period at our New Bedford facility, we have installed the same heat exchanger at our Milford, DE facility. The heat exchangers use excess heat from the shuckers to preheat the water before it goes into the boilers. This reduces the amount of energy necessary to make steam for the plants.

Reusing water has been the most effective way to reduce water usage at our facilities. Some waters can be used to rinse down the shell area or docks.

All materials that are capable of being recycled are recycled. The use of non-recyclable materials is discouraged when ever possible. Oyster substrate restoration of DE and Chesapeake Bay’s. We have been involved with the states of DE, NJ and MD to provide clamshells to rebuild oyster grounds in the Delaware and Chesapeake Bays. This program not only helps to clean up the waters but also helps to revitalize two historic fisheries. Those shells that are not used for restoration are used for environmentally friendly roadways, driveways and landscaping projects.

Like many other aspects of our Green Initiatives, reducing our landfill deposits is both good for the environment as well as a cost reduction. One specific project at our New Bedford facility is sending appropriate waste to a compost facility instead of a landfill. There are some costs involved in doing this but they are less than a landfill and the compost can be reused as fertilizers.

Any water used in food processing must be treated and eventually winds up back in the water supply. In 2009 we spent over a million dollars on a new primary treatment system at out Milford, DE plant. This will pre-treat the water before it goes to the municipal facility and reduce onsite odors.

We are constantly searching for ways to find a use for as much by-product as we can. For instance some of the viscera material is currently being used as fertilizers. We have also entered into a joint venture to explore using clam viscera for fish feed to take advantage of its high nutrient content.