Meliá Hotels takes an important step towards a cage-free future

Meliá Hotels International has taken a significant step forward by prioritizing the welfare of hens living their lives locked up in cages. Through the dedicated efforts of Project 1882, the hotel chain has pledged to increase transparency by providing updates on its progress towards eliminating eggs from caged hens.

In 2020, Meliá Hotels International promised to phase out eggs from caged hens by 2025. Unfortunately, the hotel chain has not reported on the progress of this work. This resulted in a low ranking in the Global Travel Report, an annual report by Open Wing Alliance that examines whether companies uphold their commitments to eliminate eggs sourced from caged hens.

Against the backdrop of these past shortcomings, Meliá Hotels has now decided to expand its reporting on the transition to a cage-free operation. The company have agreed not only to report globally for their entire portfolio, but also to report regionally and on a country-level basis. Despite the hotel chain expressing a desire for a faster progress and after much push from Project 1882, they have insisted on extending their deadline for phasing out caged eggs to 2026.

– We are very pleased that Meliá Hotels International has decided to become more transparent in its reporting and know that it will make a big difference for tens of thousands of hens around the world. The hotel chain must now intensify its efforts to accelerate the phase-out, says Benny Andersson, CEO of Project 1882.

Project 1882’s persistent campaigning and corporate advocacy have played a significant role in influencing the Spanish hotel chain to mirror the decisions of Hilton Hotels and the Louvre Hotel Group. Project 1882 remains steadfast in our commitment to advocating for change and holding companies accountable, ensuring that no hens are forced to live their lives in cages.

In 2020, Meliá Hotels International promised to phase out eggs from caged hens by 2025. Unfortunately, the hotel chain has not reported on the progress of this work. This resulted in a low ranking in the Global Travel Report, an annual report by Open Wing Alliance that examines whether companies uphold their commitments to eliminate eggs sourced from caged hens.

Against the backdrop of these past shortcomings, Meliá Hotels has now decided to expand its reporting on the transition to a cage-free operation. The company have agreed not only to report globally for their entire portfolio, but also to report regionally and on a country-level basis. Despite the hotel chain expressing a desire for a faster progress and after much push from Project 1882, they have insisted on extending their deadline for phasing out caged eggs to 2026.

– We are very pleased that Meliá Hotels International has decided to become more transparent in its reporting and know that it will make a big difference for tens of thousands of hens around the world. The hotel chain must now intensify its efforts to accelerate the phase-out, says Benny Andersson, CEO of Project 1882.

Project 1882’s persistent campaigning and corporate advocacy have played a significant role in influencing the Spanish hotel chain to mirror the decisions of Hilton Hotels and the Louvre Hotel Group. Project 1882 remains steadfast in our commitment to advocating for change and holding companies accountable, ensuring that no hens are forced to live their lives in cages.

Support our work

Help us save lives!

Project 1882 strives for a world where every life matters. By supporting our work, you help make that vision become a reality.

Donate

https://act.project1882.org/donation/int

Support our work

Help us save lives!

Project 1882 strives for a world where every life matters. By supporting our work, you help make that vision become a reality.

Donate

https://act.project1882.org/donation/int

Nanna Thydén

Factory farms

Nowhere in the world are there more animals than on factory farms. They are treated as products, even though they are sentient individuals with their own interests and needs. Project 1882 is working to change this through public education, political advocacy and partnering with businesses. We work for a future without factory farms.

Hens and Roosters

Millions of hens are still kept in cages in Sweden and the EU. The cages are so cramped that the hens can't even puff up their feathers. Project 1882 has been actively working for many years to improve the situation for hens, and together with our members, we have managed to make caged eggs a thing of the past in all food chains.

Progress: over 50 000 fewer caged hens in one year

According to the latest statistics from the Swedish egg industry, the proportion of hens kept in cages has decreased to two percent in 2023. This also means that for the first time in modern times, fewer than 200,000 hens are now kept in cages in Sweden – a reduction of more than 57,000 hens since 2022. However, the rate of reduction is slowing down, pending political decisions.

– Project 1882’s work on corporate responsibility is making a real difference, and we are now witnessing large companies phasing out their very last cage eggs in the coming year. But the progress is too slow. Now the politicians must act for a comprehensive cage ban to ensure we reach the end of the road, says Benny Andersson, CEO of Project 1882.

When Project 1882 started working to phase out cages 15 years ago, about 40 percent of the laying hens in Sweden were kept in cages. As more companies have chosen to remove cage eggs from their products, the figure is now down to less than two percent. This reduction has saved more than two million hens from being kept in cages in Sweden.

Food retailers and consumers have been removing caged eggs from their purchases for several years, and the continued phase-out has resulted in more than 50,000 hens being cage-free in 2023. However, eggs from caged hens are still hidden in ingredients and in pharmaceutical productions, and policy decisions are needed to tackle these issues.

– We have been promised a comprehensive EU ban on cages, following the successful citizens’ initiative “End the Cage Age”. In addition to putting pressure in the EU, Swedish politicians also need to make decisions at home on a cage ban this year, concludes Benny Andersson.

Project 1882 has sent a public complaint about the European Commission’s broken promises to the European Ombudsman and is awaiting a response.

– Project 1882’s work on corporate responsibility is making a real difference, and we are now witnessing large companies phasing out their very last cage eggs in the coming year. But the progress is too slow. Now the politicians must act for a comprehensive cage ban to ensure we reach the end of the road, says Benny Andersson, CEO of Project 1882.

When Project 1882 started working to phase out cages 15 years ago, about 40 percent of the laying hens in Sweden were kept in cages. As more companies have chosen to remove cage eggs from their products, the figure is now down to less than two percent. This reduction has saved more than two million hens from being kept in cages in Sweden.

Food retailers and consumers have been removing caged eggs from their purchases for several years, and the continued phase-out has resulted in more than 50,000 hens being cage-free in 2023. However, eggs from caged hens are still hidden in ingredients and in pharmaceutical productions, and policy decisions are needed to tackle these issues.

– We have been promised a comprehensive EU ban on cages, following the successful citizens’ initiative “End the Cage Age”. In addition to putting pressure in the EU, Swedish politicians also need to make decisions at home on a cage ban this year, concludes Benny Andersson.

Project 1882 has sent a public complaint about the European Commission’s broken promises to the European Ombudsman and is awaiting a response.

Support us

For an end to unsustainable animal factories!

Project 1882 works for the dismantling of factory farms. Help us in our work!

Donate

https://act.project1882.org/donation/int

Support us

For an end to unsustainable animal factories!

Project 1882 works for the dismantling of factory farms. Help us in our work!

Donate

https://act.project1882.org/donation/int

Anna Harenius

anna.harenius@djurensratt.se

Factory farms

Nowhere in the world are there more animals than on factory farms. They are treated as products, even though they are sentient individuals with their own interests and needs. Project 1882 is working to change this through public education, political advocacy and partnering with businesses. We work for a future without factory farms.

Hens and Roosters

Millions of hens are still kept in cages in Sweden and the EU. The cages are so cramped that the hens can't even puff up their feathers. Project 1882 has been actively working for many years to improve the situation for hens, and together with our members, we have managed to make caged eggs a thing of the past in all food chains.

Hens and Roosters

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