Poultry Welfare Benchmarking and Industry Progress

Broiler chicken welfare benchmarking programs measure and publish welfare outcomes at farm and processor level, creating transparency and competitive pressure for improvement.

Key Facts

The European Chicken Commitment (ECC) is a voluntary corporate pledge covering higher space allowances, slow-growth breeds, and enhanced enrichment for broiler chickens
Over 200 major food companies globally have signed welfare commitments covering broiler chicken welfare including lower stocking densities
Welfare Footprint Project data suggests that broiler chickens experience the most total hours of suffering of any farmed species due to fast growth and health problems
Slow-growth breeds used in higher-welfare systems show reduced leg problems, cardiovascular disease, and ascites compared to fast-growth breeds
On-farm welfare outcome measures including hock burn, gait scoring, and mortality rates provide objective benchmarking data
Progress against ECC commitments has been slow in many regions, with companies frequently missing their own stated deadlines

Welfare Considerations

Broiler chicken welfare benchmarking represents an important lever for welfare improvement at scale. By making welfare outcomes visible and comparable, benchmarking creates competitive pressure for improvement and enables retailers and food companies to manage welfare risk in their supply chains. However, voluntary commitments without enforcement mechanisms frequently fail to deliver — company pledges must be backed by audit requirements, public reporting, and genuine market consequences for non-compliance.

What You Can Do

Choose chicken products from brands that have made and are meeting specific welfare commitments under the European Chicken Commitment or equivalent
Check company progress reports on welfare commitments — many organizations track and publish compliance data
Support organizations campaigning for higher welfare standards and holding food companies accountable to their commitments
Reduce chicken consumption or shift to welfare-certified alternatives to reduce demand for conventional broiler production