Binghamton University Achieves Marine Council Certification

Binghamton University and campus dining services provider Sodexo say the school has become the first State University of New York (SUNY) campus to attain Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Chain of Custody certification. The certification ensures that in every step of the supply chain, from the fishers through the processor, distributor and the end user, MSC-certified seafood is not mixed with or substituted for non-certified seafood. A distinctive blue MSC ecolabel is displayed on the product, confirming that the seafood comes from a sustainable fishery that has been awarded MSC certification.

The focus on certified sustainable seafood is in line with the strategic plan of the school's Dining Services to promote global citizenship and ethical sustainability, says Peter Napolitano, director of Auxiliary Services, who led an MSC certification process that entailed an inspection conducted by a third-party auditor as well as training of front-line staff.

“Maintaining and developing sustainable practices within our Division of Student Affairs is of crucial importance to our students, faculty and staff,” Napolitano says. “Our dining program is committed to these practices and being certified by the MSC reflects the willingness of our dining services partner, Sodexo, to take a leadership role in supporting Binghamton University’s environmental conservation, sustainability and values.”

Binghamton is the first Sodexo campus dining program in New York to achieve MSC certification, but the company previously rolled out the MSC certification program at metro Washington DC client locations such as National Geographic, National Academy of Sciences, National Aquarium, The Brookings Institution, International Monetary Fund, Gannett, Marriott International, Marymount University, the University of Mary Washington, George Mason University and the company's own headquarters in Gaithersburg, MD. The estimated reach of these certified locations is more than one million consumers.