Sainsbury’s ditches brown eggs in net zero drive...

[dutchman]

Supermarket says shift will ‘indirectly reduce demand on land and water used to grow feed crops’



Sainsbury’s is ditching brown eggs and switching to white as it races to hit net zero.

The UK’s second-largest supermarket plans to sell only white-shell eggs in its own-brand cartons after studies found they have a lower carbon footprint than brown alternatives.

Sainsbury’s said the shift towards “lower carbon” eggs would help it hit ambitious targets to reach net zero within its own operations by 2035 and across all of its suppliers by 2050.

White eggs have a 12.7pc smaller carbon footprint than brown alternatives, Sainsbury’s said, because the hens that lay them tend to be smaller and consume less energy-intensive feed. The supermarket said this helps to “indirectly reduce demand on land and water used to grow feed crops, as well as the amount of manure produced”.

The retailer said the shift to white-shell eggs for its own-brand ranges would also help improve animal welfare across its supply chain, given the hens that lay them are less prone to feather pecking. In its latest annual report, the supermarket said it was “making progress” on the egg change.

A Sainsbury’s spokesman said: “White eggs have the same delicious taste and nutritional benefits as their brown counterparts, but result in lower emissions and better welfare outcomes for the hens that lay them.

“We know Brits love their eggs and, as we work with suppliers to transition all our own brand to white shells, they can now enjoy them knowing they are better for the environment and the hens.”

[rebbonk]

Sadly, we aren't going to cure stupidity!

Good luck Sainsbury's, you absolute fools!

[dutchman]

Sainsbury’s accused of sacrificing animal welfare for net zero



Campaigners have accused Sainsbury’s of sacrificing animal welfare to bolster its green credentials, days after the supermarket revealed plans to ditch brown eggs to hit net zero.

Sainsbury’s is facing fresh criticism because of its strategy to buy from more “efficient” farmers, with charities accusing it of “prioritising net zero” over concerns about animal conditions.

The retailer said on Wednesday that it would phase out brown-shelled eggs in its own-brand ranges and switch entirely to white eggs. It argued the switch would help it reach net zero because the hens had a lower carbon footprint.

Lindsay Duncan, of World Animal Protection UK, claimed the change represented a “step backwards for animal welfare”.

She demanded that Sainsbury’s focus more on improving conditions at its suppliers than hitting green targets and accused the retailer of trumpeting its eco-friendly approach while still buying “low-welfare, fast-growing chicken breeds for meat”.

Ms Duncan said: “Sainsbury’s is prioritising net zero over animal welfare, but this approach is misinformed.”

The accusation follows frustration with the supermarket’s decision not to sign up to the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC), a set of standards designed to improve the welfare of chickens raised for meat by requiring a shift to slower-growing breeds.

Campaigners argue that without signing the pledge, retailers are continuing to back the farming of so-called “Frankenchickens”, which are bred for rapid growth, but can suffer from lameness, poor mobility and higher mortality rates.

Sainsbury’s egg shake-up follow a series of moves at the supermarket to hit net zero targets by making changes in its supply chain, including a 2023 initiative in which it began slaughtering cattle for beef around 20pc earlier than the industry standard.

At the time, it argued that improved feed and living conditions meant animals reached the “optimal point for consumption” sooner, producing fewer emissions.

The supermarket said the changes would cut the carbon footprint of some beef products by around a quarter.

The Government’s animal welfare committee has warned that a focus on environmental metrics risks overlooking harm to animals, stating that “selection for fast growth rate has resulted in birds with serious welfare problems”.

Academic research has reached similar conclusions.

A study by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences found slower-growing chickens showed “significantly better leg health and mobility” compared with faster-growing breeds, with lower levels of lameness and mortality.

Hannah Yates, of the Humane League campaign group, said: “Protecting the environment and protecting animal welfare are both essential.

“We’d like to see Sainsbury’s urgently prioritising a move away from fast-growing breeds.”

She added that fast-growing chickens “often become so top-heavy due to their speed of growth that their legs cannot properly support their weight and they are forced to lie in their own waste, burning their skin”.

The BCC is “designed to alleviate this suffering by mandating a switch to healthier, slower-growing breeds”.

Several major food companies have stepped away from the BCC in recent months, instead backing alternative frameworks that place greater emphasis on environmental outcomes.

Retailers and suppliers, including KFC-owner Yum Brands, have supported industry-led initiatives, which are designed to take a “more holistic view of chicken production” in response to a supply crunch. However, campaigners claim these schemes fall short of BCC standards.

Ms Yates said: “It’s clear to us that these companies have banded together to shirk their animal welfare responsibilities and use sustainability as an excuse.”