N E W S U P DATE
A GROWING APPETITE FOR CHANGE
Compassion is proud to have worked in depth with 13 of the 30 companies that have improved their tier ranking this year, and with three of those that have maintained their top tier position within BBFAW.
The latest Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) report, was launched in April.
The Benchmark is a longterm change initiative, designed as a guide for investors, and it is showing definite signs of progress. Although there is still more work to be done, it is promising that there appears to be both an appetite and a willingness for change within the food industry, the financial sector and crucially amongst consumers who are a key driving force behind it.
It analysed the animal welfare policy commitments, performance and transparency of 150 of the world’s leading food companies, and revealed the promising news that 60% now have formal farm animal welfare policies. The report, based on 2019 research, confirms Marks & Spencer, Waitrose, Migros, Cranswick, Noble Foods and Co-op Group (Switzerland) as global leaders on farm animal welfare. It also shows that UK companies have significantly higher average animal welfare scores (64%) compared to those from other geographic areas, including the rest of Europe (40%), and North America (29%).
The Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare Report 2019 Nicky Amos & Dr Rory Sullivan
PROFESSOR ARJEN HOEKSTRA – A TRUE FRIEND OF COMPASSION
COMPASSION BEHIND THE NEWS In January, The Guardian drew extensively on Compassion’s research and campaigning expertise for a whole week of articles on long distance live transport. The series took a closer look at the reality of this industry, the countries involved, and raised important awareness of the trade’s impact on the health and welfare of farm animals.
In November last year, we were truly saddened to learn of the sudden and unexpected death of Compassion Visionary, Professor Arjen Hoekstra. Arjen, the founder of the Water Footprint Network, was a friend of Compassion for many years and contributed an important chapter to ‘The Meat Crisis’, which our Ambassador Emeritus, Joyce D’Silva, co-edited. His work was invaluable in publicising the amount of water required for food production – e.g. a kilo of beef compared with a kilo of vegetables – thereby making the case for reduced meat consumption in the interest of preservation of resources.
To read The Guardian’s series of articles, visit ciwf.org.uk/Guardian-Live-Exports
ciwf.org
The Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare Report 2019
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