Sodexo announced on July 25 that it has made significant progress towards its commitment to source only cage-free eggs (both shell and liquid) worldwide by 2025.
Sodexo operates in 80 countries and sources approximately a quarter of a billion shell eggs worldwide on an annual basis.
"Our cage-free egg commitment is a major undertaking and allows us to address animal welfare on a truly global scale. We take our commitments very seriously and are happy to be able to report such great progress after only twelve months of implementation," said Neil Barrett, Sodexo Group senior vice president, Corporate Responsibility.
"Our goal of working closely with our partners to support and contribute to the progressive transformation of the entire industry is already beginning to produce results. Our supply management teams have introduced sound long-term practices with our suppliers, so they in turn can invest on a durable basis," said Michel Franceschi, Sodexo Group senior vice president, Supply Management.
From a fiscal year 2016 baseline of 26 percent of cage-free shell eggs and 10 percent liquid eggs, Sodexo set interim objectives towards achieving its 100 percent target in 2025. With the support of specialized non-government organization partners, Sodexo highlights a range of international efforts:
Progress in Europe
Sodexo's activities in Denmark and Finland have joined the countries which had already made the transition to 100 percent cage-free eggs prior to the group's global commitment, and all countries in the Nordic region are planning to be 100 percent cage-free for shell eggs by January 2019.
In France, Sodexo has been an active participant in industry-led roundtables alongside suppliers and industry representatives in order to measure impacts in the supply chain. The egg industry has since announced a commitment to transition to 50 percent cage-free eggs by 2022.
North America
In North America, after having implemented almost 100 percent cage-free shell eggs, Sodexo has begun the journey to implement cage-free liquid eggs. In July, the Universities segment started its transition toward cage-free liquid eggs. As the cage-free egg supply grows, Sodexo will work with its clients and suppliers to incorporate cage-free liquid eggs across all of its operations.
Other regions
Sodexo in Singapore is part of a working group led by Humane Society International to foster industry change across the region. Similar initiatives have been implemented in other geographies, including South Africa.
"By bringing together all the actors around the table, we'll be able to achieve our 2025 objective of sourcing cage-free eggs from local producers in every country where we operate," concluded Franceschi.
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