Sustainable Salt
How is salt produced?
Salt is produced through seawater evaporation and rock salt mining.
Solution mining involves digging a well deep into an underground salt deposit, pumping in water to dissolve the salt crystals, and then drawing the brine back up to the surface.
Salt can also be obtained by solar evaporation, in which seawater (or briny or ultra-saline lake water) is pumped into a series of large, shallow ponds and left to evaporate naturally.
Can salt production be sustainable?
Large-scale sea salt production operations can potentially cause wildlife issues, as briny ponds can provide sanctuary for certain wetland species, like flamingos and other birds. The concentrated liquid that remains after the solar evaporation process – known as bitterns – can be harmful to fish and other aquatic organisms.
Salt mining can also potentially impact in terms of land use, emissions and social accountability.
Several salt companies have however implemented effective measures to reduce their impact on the environment and comply with strict social accountability policies
Friend of the Sea has developed a standard for sea and mined salt sustainability. Consumers will be able to make responsible choices and purchase salt produced in a sustainable way.
For information regarding mined salt requirements, please visit the related page on our Friend of the Earth website at SUSTAINABLE MINING | Friend of the Earth
The Standard for Sustainable Salt
- Social and environmental management system in place
- Legal compliance
- Conservation of the ecosystem
- Protection of wild flora and fauna
- Appropriate use of hazardous substances
- Appropriate water resources management
- Outputs control
- Waste management
- Energy management
- Social accountability
- Economic sustainability
Would you like to receive a quotation for Friend of the Sea audit and royalties to use our logo?
Please fill out the online Preliminary Information Form (PIF):
- All the information will be kept strictly confidential and implies NO commitment on your company’s part.
- The Friend of the Sea certification is voluntary and NOT mandatory to gain access to markets.
- The application process is NOT discriminatory on size, scale, management and minimum number of operators.
- Friend of the Sea is a NGO and it strives to make participation in the audits affordable for all companies.
- Please, contact us for more information on Government funding which might be available in your Country for sustainability certifications: info@friendofthesea.org
