Cage-Free Eggs, a Sustainable Food Solution That Consumers Are Starting to Look At

JAKARTA - Public awareness of the origins of the food consumed continues to increase, including on egg products. Cage-free eggs are often seen as a more responsible choice because they are produced from a maintenance system that allows chickens to move more freely and express their natural behavior.

In terms of nutrition, cage-free eggs are often perceived as better, although the difference is not always significant compared to eggs from a cage system. Citing the Healthline page, the protein, fat, and cholesterol content in both types of eggs are relatively similar.

However, several studies show that eggs from chickens raised without cages have the potential to have higher levels of omega-3, vitamins A and E, and antioxidants such as lutein and zeaxanthin, especially if the chickens are given a more varied and natural feed.

A number of studies also show that better farming systems can contribute to egg quality, while meeting consumer demand for more sustainable, ethical, and transparent food.

These factors have led the cage-free egg movement to become increasingly relevant in recent years, particularly in the Asian region with high egg consumption.

Amid the increasing attention to the issue, the Asian food sector is now in a phase of determination as the 2025 cage-free commitment deadline set by many companies approaches. Although the involvement of business actors shows an increasing trend, the implementation rate is still considered inadequate and transparency gaps are still found.

This situation raises concerns about the company's ability to meet its commitments on time, which impacts animal welfare and the sustainability of the global supply chain.

The Asia Cage-Free Tracker 2025 report compiled by Sinergia Animal assessed 95 food companies operating in India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand. These five countries are key players in the Asian egg economy and have a strategic role in the global supply of cage-free eggs.

The results of the report show that 70.5 percent of companies have revealed some progress towards the procurement of cage-free eggs, an increase compared to 69.8 percent in 2024. However, as many as 29.5 percent of companies have not yet made any public reports at all.

Meanwhile, only 14.7 percent of companies have fully implemented cage-free systems or are on a clear path to meet their commitments by the end of 2025, although most have been making these transition pledges for several years.

The slow progress is a serious concern given Asia's enormous role in the global egg economy. The region is the world's largest producer of commercial eggs, with characteristics of diverse roles in each country.

Thailand is known as a supplier of eggs and processed raw materials for export markets, while Indonesia and Malaysia contribute to maintaining the stability of domestic and regional supply. India continues to strengthen its position in the egg powder industry and processed egg raw materials that are widely used in various countries.

On the other hand, Japan, as one of the countries with the highest per capita egg consumption in the world, is highly dependent on imported egg raw materials. However, the battery cage system is still the dominant production method in many Asian countries.

In this system, chickens are kept in very limited spaces even smaller than an A4 sheet of paper so that it is not possible to have natural behaviors such as nesting, perching, or dust bathing. In fact, these practices have been gradually banned in the European Union, Canada, and New Zealand.

In Asia, its use is still widespread due to the slow implementation of policies and the lack of transparent reporting.

This 2025 report groups companies into nine tiers to identify those who have led the transition and those who are still lagging behind.

A number of companies such as Aman Resorts, Capella Hotel Group, Illy Caffè, Lotus Bakeries, Shake Shack, Starbucks, Pizza Marzano, and The Cheesecake Factory have completed the transition to cage-free eggs across their operations in Asia.

Meanwhile, Bali Buda, Group Holder, Group Savencia, IKEA, Pizza Express, and ViaVia Restaurant confirmed that they are targeting the completion of the transition by the end of 2025.

However, the report also noted that 33 companies only released progress information globally without specific data for the Asian region, making it difficult to assess implementation at the regional level. In addition, 28 other companies did not show any public transparency regarding cage-free commitments.

The analysis by country also shows inequality. Indonesia has the largest number of participating companies with 57 companies, but the implementation rate is still uneven. India recorded a relatively high reporting rate of 78.6 percent, although implementation is very diverse. Japan showed the lowest transparency rate among all countries evaluated.

Thailand has a fairly good involvement, but is still limited to the advanced implementation stage, while Malaysia continues to show an increase in participation even though the majority of companies have not submitted special reports for the country.

"We see movement, but not as fast as it needs to be. Next year is crucial. Companies that delay updates risk falling behind as consumer expectations for transparency and responsible food sources continue to rise," said Nurkhayati Darunifah, Asia Corporate Accountability Lead and author of the report.

On another occasion, Saneekan Rosamontri, Managing Director of Sinergia Animal Thailand said, as the 2025 deadline approaches, companies across Asia are facing a decisive moment.

"The commitment to cage-free is no longer just an intention, but a matter of proof. Transparent reporting and timely action will determine whether Asia will accelerate progress or become an obstacle in the global transition to higher animal welfare standards," he explained.

In the future, the Act for Farmed Animals coalition consisting of Animal Friends Jogja and Sinergia Animal International stated that it would continue to monitor developments and collaborate with business actors in Asia.

This effort is aimed at ensuring the implementation of food standards that are in line with global expectations for a more transparent, responsible, and sustainable food system.