2024 marked another step towards our goal of abolishing factory farming. In this article, we reflect on the most notable milestones we achieved this year.
Progress for broiler chickens
Probably the most important development was that the Rewe Group (Rewe and Penny) and Lidl committed to meeting the criteria of our Broiler Initiative. Consequently, we were able to end our two-year campaign against Lidl. Seven of the ten largest food retailers are now on board, leaving only Edeka and its subsidiary Netto Marken-Discount, as well as Kaufland, as the remaining holdouts.
Other companies that joined the initiative in 2024 are Mercedes-Benz Gastronomie, Hofmanns, Frischeparadies, and TLC Landgeflügel. Furthermore, Hans im Glück fulfilled its voluntary commitment far ahead of schedule, becoming the first member to meet all the criteria of the Broiler Initiative for its entire range. Tegut also successfully transitioned its store brand »Landprimus« before its self-imposed deadline.
Progress in phasing out levels 1 & 2 of husbandry type label »Haltungsform«
Seven of the eight largest supermarket chains and discounters, with Netto Marken-Discount as the sole exception, have now committed to no longer selling fresh meat from the two lowest levels of the German five-tier husbandry type label »Haltungsform« by 2030. Some of these chains have extended this commitment to include sausage products as well. We create transparency, assist companies in implementing the phase-out process and urge the slower players not to fall behind.
Important interim court victory for turkeys
In our view, both the husbandry conditions and the overbreeding of turkeys are in breach of animal welfare legislation. At the second level of appeal, we achieved an important success for the turkeys, although the ruling is not yet legally binding.
Progress for fishes in aquaculture
The Aquaculture Welfare Standards Initiative (AWSI), which is fully financed by us, has successfully established seven partnerships with universities and educational institutions in Germany and abroad. This enables students to acquire animal welfare knowledge specific to aquatic animals. Additionally, the AWSI effectively supports producers in meeting the criteria of animal welfare modules that comply with the ASC and GlobalGAP standards.
Less animal products: partnerships launched
More and more companies are realizing the need to cut back on their purchase of animal products in order to operate more sustainably. We assist them, for example, by identifying actionable strategies and supporting them in communicating these efforts to their customers. While sometimes the partnerships are (still) confidential, we made our collaboration with the caterer Sodexo public in September 2024.
Our most important outputs of the year
Outputs are activities that, while not directly impactful on their own, play a crucial role as intermediate steps toward helping animals. Each year, we accomplish many of these. Here is our top selection for 2024:
- We carried out an animal welfare ranking of supermarkets. Several chains have raised their standards in recent years (also thanks to our cooperation with them).
- We held a Round Table for the second time to discuss with companies how we can take the Broiler Initiative forward. This time, even more company representatives took part than the first time.
- We published a legal opinion exploring options for restructuring animal husbandry in the EU.
- In our Pecking Order report, we took a close look at the largest companies of all sectors and analyzed their goals and progress regarding broiler chicken welfare.
- We generated substantial media coverage with 1,224 articles (online and print) about us and our work.
- Our regional groups brought 130 campaigns to the street.
- We launched a movement of more than 35,000 people to address the issue of overbreeding of farm animals.
- We also made difficult decisions, such as discontinuing our internationalization and dissolving our subsidiary foundation in Poland in order to focus more on our core competencies.
Thank you
Thank you to all who make this important work for the animals and the successes possible – by donations, participation in our petitions and campaigns, sharing our appeals with friends and acquaintances – to name but a few ways! Together we will achieve even more. We look forward to a successful 2025 with all of you!