Annual progress reporting shows that GCAW members are making progress on cage-free eggs, yet challenges remain with regards to processed egg ingredients, prompting the coalition of leading food firms to launch a consultation aimed at exploring solutions.   

 

The Global Coalition for Animal Welfare (GCAW), the world’s first industry-led collaboration aimed at advancing animal welfare standards throughout the global food supply chain, is holding a consultation on supply chain models for the procurement of cage-free processed egg ingredients. 

 

The launch of the consultation follows publication of the latest annual cage-free egg progress reporting by GCAW Members. Whilst this shows good progress in Europe and North America, there are challenges that are making progress more difficult in certain supply chains.

Availability, cost and traceability challenges

 

GCAW’s Laying Hen Welfare Working Group has identified the procurement of cage-free processed egg ingredients as a key challenge in meeting global cage-free egg commitments. Specifically, the challenges centre on availability, cost and traceability of cage-free processed egg ingredients. 

 

The Working Group has decided to hold a public consultation to seek wider views on the potential for alternative supply chain models to facilitate procurement of cage-free processed egg ingredients. The supply chain models to be considered in the consultation are based on those described by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO): ‘Segregated’, ‘Mass Balance’ and ‘Book and Claim’.

 

The focus of the consultation, which runs until 17th September 2021, is to seek feedback on potential solutions for the procurement of cage-free processed egg ingredients. 

In a statement, GCAW said they would be keen to hear from industry associations, egg producers, other food companies, and non-governmental organisations.

 

The consultation is available on the GCAW website here