Reducing Animal Suffering in Supply Chains

Corporate supply chain commitments are one of the most powerful levers for improving farm animal welfare at scale, and consumer and investor pressure drives these commitments.

Key Facts

The Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare evaluates over 150 major food companies on welfare commitments
Cage-free commitments covering 200 million hens have been secured through corporate campaign pressure
Animal welfare represents material business risk for food companies — incidents cause significant reputational and financial harm
Investor engagement through ESG frameworks is an increasingly important driver of corporate welfare improvements
Supply chain transparency requirements force companies to audit and verify their welfare claims

Welfare Considerations

Corporate welfare commitments work when they are specific, time-bound, independently audited, and cover the entire supply chain. Vague aspirational statements without verification have limited welfare impact. The most effective corporate welfare campaigns combine consumer pressure with investor engagement and peer company comparison. When a major food company commits to welfare changes, the ripple effect through its supply chain affects millions of animals across multiple suppliers.

What You Can Do

Engage with food companies through consumer surveys, social media, and purchase decisions
Support investor advocacy through sustainable investment funds with farm animal welfare screens
Participate in corporate campaigns run by effective advocacy organizations
Share the Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare rankings to hold companies accountable
Celebrate genuine corporate welfare commitments to reinforce positive change