Australia's leading animal protection organisations have united to urge Woolworths and Coles to honour their long-standing commitments to go cage-free by the end of 2025.
A joint open letter has today been sent to Woolworths CEO Amanda Bardwell and Coles CEO Leah Weckert ahead of the supermarkets' upcoming Annual General Meetings on 30 October and 11 November, respectively.
The supermarket giants first committed in 2013 to phasing out cage eggs from their supply chains, pledging that by 2025 all shell eggs and egg ingredients in own-brand products would be cage-free.
However, earlier this year, both companies walked back those commitments – with Coles delaying its target to 2030 and Woolworths leaving the timeframe open ended.
Australian Alliance for Animals Policy Director Dr Jed Goodfellow said the move undermines consumer trust and prolongs unnecessary animal suffering.
"Woolworths and Coles were rightly applauded when they made their cage-free commitments, and they've enjoyed years of positive publicity for the decision," Dr Goodfellow said.
"To turnaround now, at the 11th hour, and say 'sorry we can't do it,' is deeply disappointing – and it's being met with growing frustration from consumers,
"Battery cages are cruel and outdated. They confine hens to a space smaller than an A4 sheet of paper and cause the highest rates of disuse osteoporosis, fatty live disease, and bone breakages of all egg farming systems,
"Modern cage-free systems, including fully indoor barn systems, can produce a reliable, affordable supply of eggs, without inflicting this level of suffering,
"Breaking these promises means millions more hens will continue to live in misery for longer,
"We urge customers and shareholders alike to raise their concerns with the supermarkets about this backward step – and we call on their leadership to uphold their promises to customers and Aussie hens.
Quotes from Alliance members:
"Australians have made it clear they expect supermarkets to do better for animals. This decision betrays the trust of customers who believed their weekly shop was supporting a more humane future," Nicola Beynon, Campaign Director, Humane World for Animals Australia (formerly Humane Society International).
"Delaying progress on cage-free eggs isn't just a broken promise — it's a step back for animal welfare in this country. Coles and Woolworths have the influence and capacity to lead; now they need to show the will," Rebecca Linigen, National Director, FOUR PAWS Australia.
"Every year of delay means millions of hens continue to suffer in cages that belong in the past. Consumers want better, governments are phasing cages out, and the supermarkets must get on the right side of history," Suzanne Milthorpe, Head of Campaigns, World Animal Protection Australia Aotearoa-New Zealand
BACKGROUND
- A copy of the joint open letter can be found here: http://allianceforanimals.org.au/ourwork/open-letter-to-coles-woolworths-cage-free-promise
- Approximately 5 million hens continue to be farmed in battery cages in Australia.
- Cage eggs made up 10.8% of the value and 13.3% of the volume of supermarket egg sales in FY 2024/25, Australian Eggs.
- State and territory governments have committed to phasing out battery cages nationally by 2036.
- 77% Australians support a phase out of battery cages, RSPCA.
- More than three-quarters of OECD countries have already implemented or legislated cage-free transitions.
