Most companies worldwide have achieved their 2025 cage-free egg commitments, according to the Fair and Fowl 2025 Cage-Free Egg Report recently published by The Open Wing Alliance. The annual assessment evaluates how companies are progressing on their global cage-free egg commitments across five key sectors: hospitality, manufacturers, restaurants, foodservice, and retailers.
Founded in 2016 by The Humane League, the Open Wing Alliance is a global coalition of 84 animal protection organizations spanning over 72 countries on six continents. The coalition has secured over 3,000 corporate commitments to improved animal welfare policies worldwide through shared knowledge, resources, and coordinated advocacy.
The findings show considerable progress in 2025, with 92% of all corporate cage-free egg commitments with public deadlines of 2024 or earlier now fulfilled. This year represents a significant milestone, as thousands of cage-free commitments come due by year’s end. What was once considered a progressive stance has increasingly become a standard practice in the food industry.
“The cage-free movement continues to gain global momentum, yet stark contrasts remain between companies honoring their commitments and those still stalling,” said Hannah Surowinski, Senior Associate Director of Global Corporate Relations at The Humane League. “Transparency is no longer optional—it’s the foundation of consumer trust. As more companies remove cages from their global egg supply chains, the few that don’t are becoming the outliers and risking serious reputational damage.”
Industry leaders set the pace towards
The report spotlights companies demonstrating strong performance through transparency and proactive progress. Leading their respective sectors are Capella Hotels and Resorts in hospitality, Groupe Pasquier in manufacturers, The Cheesecake Factory in restaurants, Lagardère Travel Retail in retailers, and Compass Group in food service.
However, while most companies are meeting their commitments and reporting openly, some have not provided public updates on their progress. These include Radisson Hotels in hospitality, Puratos in manufacturers, Alsea in restaurants, Couche-Tard in retailers, and Newrest in food service. The lack of reporting stands out more prominently as transparency becomes the industry norm.
Currently, more than four billion hens worldwide remain confined in cage housing systems. These cages restrict movement to the point where hens cannot spread their wings or engage in natural behaviors. Research has linked caged housing to elevated stress levels, increased disease susceptibility, and poor bone health in laying hens.
Several countries have already moved beyond caged systems. Austria, Luxembourg, and Switzerland have implemented bans on cage housing for egg-laying hens, while other nations are developing phase-out timelines. In the United States, legislative action has gained momentum, with 10 states—including California, Massachusetts, and Michigan—passing laws that end the sale or production of eggs from caged hens.
The shift toward cage-free systems reflects evolving consumer expectations around food production practices and animal welfare standards in the global food supply chain.
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