Open Wing Alliance Secures 3,000 Commitments to Spare Chickens From Abuse

When the OWA started, we were a small but mighty group of activists from six organizations. Thanks to years of hard work and outreach, our coalition has grown tremendously in both size and strength. Now, 95 organizations are part of the alliance, representing 67 countries across six continents. Each coalition member plays a vital role in achieving the OWA's shared goal. Through corporate outreach and public campaigns, together we've gotten some of the world's biggest companies to eliminate the use of cruel battery cages, and adopt welfare policies that protect chickens from some of the worst forms of abuse.

Each individual welfare commitment secured by the OWA—whether it's from a retailer, restaurant, fast food chain, hotel, or cruise line—makes a positive impact in the lives of chickens in that company's supply chain. But, what's more, each of these commitments adds up to create a major shift in the movement to end cages entirely. Welfare commitments are becoming the norm across industries, meaning that a cage-free future is on the horizon.

3,000 commitments is already an astounding number, but it represents an even bigger accomplishment—billions of chickens who no longer have to suffer through life trapped in a tight, wire cage in the egg industry, or stuck on a filthy factory farm floor in the meat industry.

"Thanks to the combined power of the OWA and its members, corporations around the world are realizing the power of eradicating cages from their supply chains," says Hannah Surowinski, Global Corporate Relations Coordinator for the Open Wing Alliance. "This significant landmark represents the indomitable force of the OWA in improving the lives of countless animals. Here's to 3,000 more!"

How corporate commitments help chickens

For decades, factory farms have prioritized profits and efficiency over ethics and sustainability—and billions of chickens have paid the price. But, as more people wake up to the cruelty of factory farming, consumers are demanding change. They care about animal welfare, and will no longer accept inhumane practices from the companies they buy food from—many are even willing to switch the brands they buy to ones that avoid animal cruelty.

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Thanks to the combined power of the OWA and its members, corporations around the world are realizing the power of eradicating cages from their supply chains.

This is why corporate animal welfare commitments are important. To meet consumer demand for higher animal welfare products, companies pledge to stop supporting cruel factory farm practices, like confining chickens in battery cages. Increased demand means that more and more facilities must eliminate these cruel practices and adhere to higher animal welfare standards. And, it all translates to fewer chickens suffering from the worst forms of abuse.

Chickens in the egg industry

Until recently, keeping hens in tight, wire cages known as battery cages was the norm in the egg industry. These cages confine hens in a space so tight, they can barely move—let alone express any of their natural behaviors. The intensive confinement forces hens to endure debilitating injuries and psychological anguish, day in and day out. In short, trapping hens in battery cages is nothing short of inhumane.

Although, sadly, billions of chickens still face the horrors of cage confinement, the Open Wing Alliance is helping to make cage-free the new normal for egg-laying hens. Since its founding, the coalition has secured 2,430 cage-free commitments from companies around the world. And, because many companies have already fulfilled their commitments to eliminate cages, the OWA has already made a tangible impact on the welfare of millions of hens.

"Corporate campaigns are an incredibly effective tool for making progress for hens trapped in cages,” says Jennie Hunter, OWA Senior Campaigns Coordinator. "This milestone is a testament to the power of the OWA when we work together to make positive change for animals."

Chickens in the meat industry

Since 2016, OWA organizations have expanded the scope of their work to help even more chickens. We've set our collective sights on the welfare of chickens in the meat industry—an industry that forces billions of chickens to suffer through abysmal conditions and excruciating pain on factory farms.

The industry has bred chickens to grow so large, so fast, they can't support their own weight, forcing the birds to wallow on crowded factory farm floors. These chickens are incredibly susceptible to disease and infection from lying in their own waste, as well as debilitating leg and foot injuries from their limited mobility. If these chickens are able to survive their allotted eight weeks of life before being sent to the slaughterhouse, they face an even more gruesome fate: death by live-shackle slaughter—the horrific slaughter method that boils thousands of birds alive each week, and leaves countless more with broken bones and psychological trauma.

It doesn't have to be this way. By adopting strong chicken welfare policies, companies can withdraw their support for these horrific practices. The OWA has convinced 570 corporations around the world to adopt meaningful welfare policies that protect chickens from having to experience the worst forms of abuse in the meat industry.

Holding companies accountable to change

Making an animal welfare commitment is the first step towards protecting chickens from abuse. To create real change for chickens, companies actually have to follow through on their commitments to eliminate cages and other forms of cruelty from their supply chains.

Thanks to the OWA’s relentless activism, companies have made good on their animal welfare policies. 37% of the commitments secured by the OWA have been fulfilled, meaning that companies are following through on improving welfare for the chickens in their supply chains. And, 85% of companies who pledged to eliminate cages by 2022 have followed through on their commitments on time. A vast majority of commitments are being fulfilled on time—and some ahead of time—adding up to a real impact for billions of animals whose lives and conditions are improved by these commitments.

And, if companies don’t follow through, the OWA works to hold them accountable. As a coalition we call on companies to report their progress toward going cage-free every year until their goals are met.

When companies make empty promises and refuse to be transparent about their efforts to eliminate cruelty, they deceive consumers and harm animals. Coalition activists won’t accept empty promises. Our collective work to hold corporations accountable for keeping their cage-free promises has resulted in renewed cage-free commitments from companies like Quiznos, Red Robin, and Black Bear Diner—ensuring that animal welfare policies translate into tangible impact for animals.

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This milestone is a testament to the power of the OWA when we work together to make positive change for animals.

This most recent milestone speaks to how effective the Open Wing Alliance is at fulfilling its mission to end the abuse of chickens worldwide. But, the Open Wing Alliance isn’t this effective on its own—it relies on the support of thousands of Changemakers and volunteers worldwide who care about ending the abuse of chickens. You can play a vital role in holding corporations accountable in the fight to end cruel cage confinement, once and for all. Together, we can create a future where no chicken has to suffer in our broken food system.