Marks & Spencer and Waitrose lead global benchmark on farm animal welfare
Marks & Spencer, Waitrose, Noble Foods, and Coop Group (Switzerland) have attained the highest marks in the global Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare report (BBFAW).
M&S, alongside Noble Foods, Waitrose and Coop (Switzerland) have attained the highest marks in the BBFAW report..
The report, to be published 26th January, provides an annual review of how 90 of the world’s leading food companies are managing and reporting their farm animal welfare policies and practices. It has been compiled in collaboration with leading animal welfare organisations Compassion in World Farming and World Animal Protection and investment firm, Coller Capital.
The study reveals that companies are increasing the importance they attach to farm animal welfare. 69% of companies now have published farm animal welfare policies, compared to just 46% in 2012, whilst 54% of companies have published targets on farm animal welfare, up from 26% in 2012.
Currently, 11 companies occupy leadership positions in the Benchmark’s top two tiers having demonstrated the strongest commitment to farm animal welfare and showing well developed management systems and processes. They include Marks & Spencer, Coop Group (Switzerland), Waitrose and Noble Foods in tier 1, and The Co-operative Food (UK), J Sainsbury, Unilever, Cranswick, Marfrig, McDonald’s and Migros in tier 2.
Compassion in World Farming’s chief executive, Philip Lymbery, said: “The Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare has proved again this year what a powerful driver for change it is. Leading food companies are not only acknowledging farm animal welfare as a critical business issue, but also reporting and improving upon it year on year.”
However, despite the overall progress made since 2012, 40% of companies, including Burger King and Starbucks, provide little or no information on their approach to farm animal welfare.
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