Poultry Cage-Free Commitments: Industry Progress Review

Corporate cage-free commitments made in 2015-2017 are progressing at varying rates, with some companies ahead of schedule and others significantly behind.

Key Facts

Over 2,000 companies worldwide made cage-free commitments between 2015 and 2020
US companies collectively committed to 100% cage-free eggs by 2025 but many have fallen short
Global cage-free egg production has grown significantly but still represents a minority of total production
European companies are generally more advanced in cage-free transition than US or Asian counterparts
Commitment fulfillment monitoring by organizations like Humane Society tracks company progress annually
Supply chain challenges including cage-free egg availability and price premiums slow transitions

Welfare Considerations

Corporate cage-free commitments represent a significant potential welfare advance for hundreds of millions of laying hens globally. The welfare improvement from battery cage to cage-free is substantial in terms of behavioral freedom. Progress monitoring and consumer pressure are critical to ensure commitments become reality rather than greenwashing. Holding companies accountable to their public pledges is a high-leverage animal welfare advocacy strategy.

What You Can Do

Check the Humane Society's cage-free tracker to see which companies are meeting commitments
Email or call companies falling behind on cage-free commitments asking for progress updates
Choose products from companies that have met or exceeded cage-free commitments
Support organizations tracking and reporting on cage-free commitment fulfillment
Advocate for time-bound cage-free legislation that creates binding rather than voluntary requirements
Share company cage-free tracker results on social media to maintain accountability pressure