THL
A number of national food conglomerates made a commitment to source only cage-free eggs in their supply chains. But the question remains: will they be transparent about their progress?
For companies in the food sector, making a commitment to source and supply only cage-free eggs is a great first step in adopting better animal welfare standards. And while taking that step marks a victory for countless hens living in extreme confinement, it’s just as important for companies to follow through with their promises. As we reflect on the progress we’ve made in 2021, a new year invites a big question: will these companies be transparent with their customers about their commitments or hide behind false promises?
Imagine spending your life in a small wire cage with four to ten of your peers. There’s wire under your bare feet, above your head, and to each side—so you can barely move. You’ve never had a chance to stretch your limbs, breathe fresh air, or bask in the sunlight. That’s the life of a chicken on a factory farm—and it gets worse. Chickens also undergo forced mutilations, like debeaking, and suffer pain and injuries in the cramped confines of their cages.
When a food corporation makes a commitment to end the use of cages for chickens in its supply chain, it’s a moment to celebrate—both for countless hens who may see a marked improvement in their quality of life, and for those who work tirelessly on their behalf.
But empty promises won’t empty cages.
Fulfilling a cage-free commitment
Companies owe it to their customers to be transparent about their commitments. To truly demonstrate transparency, food corporations that adopt cage-free animal welfare policies need to publicly disclose the progress they’ve made toward their goal, and be transparent with their customers about how and when they will fulfill their commitment. Corporate accountability matters. For those entities with new policies in place, sharing reports on their cage-free progress goes a long way to honor the trust of their customers by showing that their animal welfare commitments are meaningful, well-intentioned, and here to stay.
How companies fail on accountability
When it comes to following through on a cage-free commitment, there are three red flags that show that companies aren't doing enough. These companies need to be transparent, put their plans in action, and report on their progress.
Not reporting
Once companies have made a cage-free commitment, it's important for them to share regular updates with consumers and stakeholders, because the public cares about animal welfare. These reports inform consumers what percentage of their egg supply they've switched to cage free. However, some companies refuse to update customers on their efforts to go cage-free—even when the public calls upon them to. When companies fail to be transparent about their progress, we hold them accountable to ensure they are actually keeping their promises for animals.
Taking their policy down
Sometimes, companies remove all record of their previously existing policy from their website. This is a huge red flag—it could mean that the company has no intention of eliminating cages from its supply chain, even after it was publicly celebrated for committing to go cage-free. When this happens, we let these companies know that their lack of transparency is unacceptable, and tell them to reinstate—and follow through on—their policy.
Not making enough progress
Publishing a roadmap is the best way a company can let the public know that it takes its cage-free commitment seriously. A cage-free roadmap is a step-by-step plan with clear progress markers for how a company will eliminate cages from its supply chain.
When a company's progress toward its cage free commitment stagnates, it could be a sign that it has no specific plan in place to reach its goal, or even that it has forgotten about its public commitment. If companies aren't making a good-faith effort to fulfill their cage-free commitment, we'll call on them to work with their suppliers and publish a clear roadmap to how they'll complete the cage-free transition.
How can I help?
As we work to create a cage-free future, it’s important to keep corporations accountable to their animal welfare policies. We’re building momentum to create positive changes for chickens, and you can help. Take action with us, and join changemakers around the world in prompting corporations to uphold (and report on) their cage-free commitments.
