WASHINGTON—Animal protection charity Humane World for Animals (formerly called Humane Society International and the Humane Society of the United States) has launched a step-by-step guide to help food and hospitality companies around the world implement a shift away from farming systems that confine animals in cages and crates.
With more than 2,000 companies worldwide working to meet their animal welfare commitments by the end of 2025 and hundreds more expected to implement cage- and crate-free sourcing policies in the following years, the Cage- and Crate-free Implementation Guide is tailored to support medium and large, national and multinational companies on the transition away from animal confinement systems in time to meet their deadlines, minimize supply chain risk and meet consumer demand for better animal welfare.
Julie Janovsky, vice president of international farmed animal welfare and protection at Humane World for Animals, said: “The 2025 deadline is not just a milestone—it’s a moment of accountability. Thousands of companies made public commitments to improve the welfare of animals in their supply chains, commitments that signaled a change for their customers and their suppliers. Many companies have already made good on those promises, which has increased supply and paved the way for companies that still have work to do. Our guide, coupled with the availability of eggs from cage-free hens, will help companies to meet their deadlines. It is the result of extensive work with industry leaders and companies of all sizes around the world and is designed to help businesses meet their animal welfare commitments and strengthen their brands. It is more than just a guide; it is a strategic support system offering our expertise and hands on assistance from policy development to producer engagement and implementation.”
Grounded in years of experience working with companies and producers across more than a dozen countries, the guide distills global best practices into a clear and actionable roadmap. It is designed to help food, hospitality and retail companies navigate common challenges, engage suppliers and make measurable progress to fulfill pledges and policies, mitigate supply chain risks, maintain market share, keep pace with regulatory momentum and strengthen their brand by meeting rising expectations and investor scrutiny.
Scientific consensus and consumer sentiment continue to drive the shift away from keeping animals in extreme cage confinement systems. Cages and crates prevent animals such as pigs and chickens from performing the most basic natural behaviors such as walking and stretching their limbs, causing profound physical and psychological harm. Hens confined in cages are unable to perform natural behaviors like nesting, perching or spreading their wings, while sows kept in gestation crates are so immobilized they are prevented from even turning around for months at a time.
Transitioning away from extreme cage confinement is critical for improving the lives of farmed animals, providing them with the opportunity to engage in some of their natural behaviors—fundamental components and cornerstones of animal welfare.
Humane World for Animals’ guide includes:
- A clear roadmap to full implementation by 2025.
- Guidance for supplier engagement and third-party certification.
- Tools to support cross-departmental collaboration and internal alignment.
- Case studies from companies that have successfully made the transition.
- Marketing and communications strategies to build client and consumer trust.
To support companies around the globe, the guide is currently available in English and Simplified Chinese, and will be available in Portuguese, Vietnamese, Thai and Spanish in the coming months.
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