The Open Wing Alliance Releases the First European Chicken Commitment Report
Abby Jade Sarfas
What progress has the European Chicken Commitment meant for chickens?
Animal welfare is increasingly becoming a key topic of conversation and policy making. From cage-free, to live transport, to more humane slaughter methods; these issues are on the table for corporations and policy makers alike.
One such issue is the farming of chickens for meat, notorious for inhumane conditions and causing severe pain and distress to these animals. This is where the ECC comes in.
Eight years ago, the European Chicken Commitment (ECC) was published. It exists to raise the minimum welfare standards for broiler chicken (chickens raised for meat) farming across the continent, and animal protection groups have been working with companies to implement the improvements ever since.
The European Chicken Commitment (ECC) is a welfare initiative established in 2016, based on a set of six scientifically derived criteria intended to improve the lives of broiler chickens.
Open Wing Alliance groups across Europe have been working with companies to implement the ECC since 2016, and most policies have a deadline of 2026 (though policies made from 2024 will have agreed upon extended deadlines). With a number of deadlines approaching, and 378 broiler policies across Europe, how are companies doing so far?
The ECC Progress Report, the first of its kind, looks into the progress that has been made. In this report, we share details on why the ECC is a necessary welfare improvement, how companies can start reporting on progress, and how the industry has changed for chickens.
Across the 378 policies, we found that:
- 1.1 billion chickens are covered by corporate ECC commitments. This means they will have more space and grow more slowly, leading to less painful health conditions.
- 230+ million chickens already being impacted on the ground
- All of the 13 of the biggest companies are making and reporting on their progress
We also look into some of the leading companies (Norwegian Producer Norsk Kylling, UK producer 2 sisters food group, and leading QSR brand KFC) and how their ECC progress has boosted their success, as well as some of the European countries doing particularly well.
The European Chicken Commitment has made a massive impact so far, and it's clear that companies across the continent are taking note and making progress.
Read the report to find out more.
