Global cage-free egg production increases

More companies than ever are making global commitments towards cage-free production, according to our sixth annual EggTrack report released today (16th November).

EggTrack continues to measure and encourage the transition to cage-free egg production by capturing and reporting progress against the cage-free commitments of major food businesses worldwide.

What is EggTrack?

We launched EggTrack five years ago to track food companies’ progress towards their commitments to produce 100% cage-free eggs. This encourages and reinforces transparency, ensuring food organisations across the world honour their commitments.

This year’s report – which includes 232 companies, 103 of which operate globally – reveals that:

• 175 companies (75.4%) are reporting progress towards their cage-free commitments, an increase from 71% in 2021, with an average 79.1% transition towards cage-free within their supply chains.
• More companies have made new global cage-free pledges during the last year, including Pizza Express, Yum! Brands and Bloomin’ Brands.
• Of the companies that reported global progress, their cage-free sourcing increased by an average of 7.9 percentage points from 55.2% in 2021 to 63.1% in 2022.

EggTrack shows an increase in global cage-free commitments from food businesses due to a rise in consumer demand for alternatives and an increased understanding of the welfare issues associated with caged production.

One company that has successfully achieved 100% cage-free production throughout its global business and which provides this year’s Foreword for the EggTrack report, is Danone.

Cees Jan Hollander, Global Farming Expertise Manager at Danone, commented: “Tracking and reporting our progress are important ways to hold ourselves accountable inside and outside our company, answering consumers and investors’ growing demand for transparency and improvement, via benchmarks like the Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW). What’s exciting is that thanks to tracking from Compassion in World Farming, we can see that cage-free eggs are swiftly becoming the industry standard.”

More to be done

To achieve 100% cage-free production, we advise that companies must address ALL egg types in their cage-free commitments (including shell eggs, egg products AND ingredient eggs) and ensure the cage-free systems they transition into are fit for purpose (exclusive of combination and limited access systems).

With many types of systems available on the market, understanding what constitutes a true cage-free system is essential for making future-proof investments and maximising the welfare of laying hens.

We strongly encourage global companies to expand their commitments beyond regional policies, enabling cage-free progress on a global scale.

Dr Tracey Jones, our Global Director of Food Business, said: “Despite difficult economic times, companies are still forging ahead with their cage-free commitments which should be applauded. It's fantastic to see an increase in global commitments from leading companies who are showing a reasonable transition to cage free.

“EggTrack is an important tool in ensuring this progress continues, helping to drive transition and compliance. But going forward, companies must address all egg categories in their commitments and ensure the cage-free systems they transition into are fit for purpose.

“Cage-free production is a smart investment, as increasing consumer and corporate demand will only accelerate this global trend.”

Follow the cage-free conversation on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at #EggTrack. To learn more and read the report, visit eggtrack.com