Animal welfare organisation, Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), has released its APAC EggTrack 2024 Spotlight, which highlights Australian leadership in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region for advancing cage-free egg commitments.
This year’s ‘online spotlight’ underscores both achievements and ongoing challenges in the region’s shift to cage-free egg production, with several Australian companies demonstrating leadership in setting benchmarks for transparency and cage-free implementation.
The APAC EggTrack 2024 spotlight showcases how companies in the region are progressing toward their cage-free commitments. The reporting is based on publicly available information, including company websites, ESG reports, and press releases.
It identifies which companies are leaders (companies achieving significant progress or 100 per cent cage-free status), in progress (companies demonstrating transparency despite low implementation), at risk (companies failing to disclose progress and commitments), and laggards (companies retreating from prior commitments).
Australian companies lead the charge
Among the 23 companies analysed across APAC, five companies in Australia are recognised as leaders.
McDonald’s has achieved 100 per cent cage-free for shell eggs and egg products across Australia and New Zealand. Coles Group reports 94 per cent cage-free for branded and own-brand shell eggs in Australia, achieving 100 per cent for its own-brand shell eggs.
Woolworths Group maintains 100 per cent cage-free for own-brand and 77 per cent for branded shell eggs, in Australia and New Zealand, and has increased cage-free ingredient use from 21 per cent to 34 per cent.
Hungry Jack’s has achieved 100 per cent cage-free shell eggs in Australia and New Zealand and is reporting 22 per cent cage-free for whole eggs, egg products, and egg ingredients across the APAC region. Sodexo Australia continues to maintain 100 per cent cage-free shell eggs, but is not reporting progress on cage-free egg products.
Companies in progress
While Australia's leaders set a high standard, other companies are making good progress such as Domino’s Pizza Enterprises (Australia) reporting an increase in cage-free implementation from 11.7 per cent to 27 per cent.
However, some companies remain silent on their Australian commitment progress, with George Weston Foods, Mars Global and Aldi Süd, yet to provide public reports. Bid Corporation’s Australian subsidiary no longer references its cage-free commitment, raising concerns about its continued dedication to its previous goals.
Call to action
Global director of food business, Dr Tracey Jones, said: “We understand transition can be challenging; however, we remain optimistic for a cage-free future.”
“Australia's leadership in the APAC region demonstrates what can be achieved and we encourage all companies to actively progress and report on their journey to cage-free for all hens in their supply,” she said.
The APAC EggTrack Spotlight 2024 highlights both achievements and ongoing challenges in the region. For example, in 2024 Australia experienced purchase limits on the number of egg cartons and an 11.2 per cent price increase as a result of Avian Influenza and the cull of more than 1.8 million birds.
On average, cage-free implementation in the region has grown by 9.9 percentage points since 2023. The spotlight shows that the overall pace of transition remains inconsistent across the region. While some companies have demonstrated strong progress, others have experienced a slower transition, with many businesses still needing to scale up implementation.
