Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) has published its 2025 EggTrack report, assessing progress against voluntary cage-free egg commitments made by major food businesses worldwide.
The report covers 852 commitments across 602 companies and says the average transition to cage-free sourcing has reached 85%, up from 75% in the previous global report published in 2023. According to CIWF, more than 160 million laying hens are now housed in cage-free systems each year, based on data reported for 117 commitments.
CIWF says 168 businesses, representing almost 30% of those assessed, have now completed their cage-free transition across all egg categories. Of the 415 commitments due by 2025, 198 (48%) have been fulfilled, while a further 29% have reached at least 75% cage-free.
The UK recorded an average cage-free transition of 97% across 71 reporting commitments. However, only 31 of the 49 UK companies tracked have completed the transition across all egg categories.
The report also highlights businesses that have delayed, amended or withdrawn their commitments. It says 61 commitments have had deadlines extended, 29 companies have removed deadlines while retaining their commitment, and 50 businesses have withdrawn cage-free pledges altogether.
Among UK retailers, CIWF reports Aldi UK, Lidl GB and Tesco UK have joined Waitrose, M&S, Co-op and Sainsbury’s in achieving 100% cage-free sourcing. ASDA has completed the transition for own-brand shell eggs and egg products, while Morrisons reports 100% cage-free shell eggs and 92% for egg products. The two UK egg producers included in the report, Noble Foods and LJ Fairburn & Son, have extended their target dates to 2026, with reported cage-free transitions of 95% and 89% respectively.