In a powerful display of global industry progress and corporate accountability, the Open Wing Alliance (OWA) released its 2025 Cage-Free Egg Fulfillment Report, revealing that 92% of all corporate cage-free egg commitments with public deadlines of 2024 or earlier have now been fulfilled—an increase from 89% reporting fulfillment last year—a major step toward eliminating some of the cruelest conditions in the global food supply chain.
The annual report tracks all cage-free pledges with public deadlines of 2024 or earlier, which includes a total of 1,147 food companies. It provides a comprehensive analysis of corporate performance, regional momentum, and industry leadership—while spotlighting companies that are falling short of their promises.
“We’re witnessing a seismic shift,” says Hannah Surowinski, Senior Associate Director of Global Corporate Relations at The Humane League, a founding member of the Open Wing Alliance. “From global hotel chains to local restaurants, companies across the world are not just making cage-free commitments—they’re actively transitioning their egg supply chains away from the use of cages. And that’s transforming the well-being of millions of egg-laying hens.”
The report follows the recent release of the OWA’s global investigation into egg farms—the largest of its kind in history—led by the Open Wing Alliance alongside We Animals and Reporters for Animals International. The investigation exposes harrowing conditions across 37 countries, including footage linked directly to corporate suppliers of Walmart and AEON. The urgency to end cage confinement has never been more evident—and this year’s data proves that companies are listening to what consumers want and following through on their public promises.
Key Findings:
- 92% of corporate commitments due 2024 or earlier are now fulfilled, up from 89% last year;
- 85 global companies reported progress in 2024, impacting an estimated 3.3 million hens;
- Regions showing major momentum include Europe (96% fulfillment), Oceania (94%), Latin America (90%), Africa (88%), Asia (86%), and North America (77%);
- Viking Cruises, Lai Sun Dining, and Conagra Brands were among the companies spotlighted for achieving good reporting;
- In Africa and Asia, regional leaders like Spur Corporation and Kewpie broke new ground in
emerging markets; - The U.S. reached a new high, with 45.7% of egg-laying hens now raised in cage-free housing.
The report also emphasizes the importance of transparent progress reporting—now considered the industry standard for responsible sourcing. Dozens of companies, including Compass Group, Aramark, and Unilever took the extra step to release credit statements in this reporting period.
Yet, the report also calls out companies that have missed deadlines or failed to report on their progress are called upon to act swiftly or risk falling behind competitors. “A commitment alone is no longer enough,” says Surowinski. “Consumers are demanding proof of cage-free progress from corporations. Transparency is what separates the leaders from the laggards.”
The 2025 report comes at a critical time: more cage-free commitments are due at the end of this year than in all previous years combined. With the infrastructure, momentum, and public support in place, this is a decisive moment for the global food industry to end cages once and for all.