Farm Animal Welfare

Pig Welfare and Corporate Governance of Animal Welfare

Major food companies integrating animal welfare into corporate governance structures are driving supply chain improvement. ESG frameworks increasingly include animal welfare as a material risk.

Key Facts

Over 1,200 companies have made cage-free egg commitments following investor and NGO pressure
Investor coalitions including FAIRR are engaging food companies on animal welfare as ESG risk
Annual corporate welfare reports create transparency and accountability in supply chains
Science-based welfare targets analogous to science-based climate targets are under development
Consumer-facing welfare ratings enable market differentiation and demand-side welfare pressure

Welfare Considerations

Corporate governance of animal welfare represents a systemic approach that can drive improvement at scale. When major retailers and food companies embed welfare in governance structures, the effect propagates through entire supply chains.

What You Can Do

Use corporate welfare commitments and reports to inform your purchasing decisions
Support organisations that engage companies on animal welfare as ESG risk
Advocate for animal welfare to be included in mandatory corporate sustainability reporting