Walmart U.S. and Sam’s Club U.S. announced April 5 that they plan to transition to 100% cage-free eggs by 2025.

“Our customers and associates count on Walmart and Sam’s Club to deliver on affordability and quality, while at the same time offering transparency into how their food is grown and raised,” said Kathleen McLaughlin, chief sustainability officer at Walmart. “Our commitment to transition to a cage-free egg supply chain recognizes that expectation and represents another step we are taking to improve transparency for food we sell in our U.S. stores and clubs.”

Walmart is transitioning to 100% cage-free eggs by 2025. (Photo: David McNew/Thinkstock)

This development supports the company’s continued progress toward its aspiration of achieving the globally-recognized “Five Freedoms” of animal welfare for farm animals in its supply chain and compliments company’s commitment to new animal welfare positions.

Highlights of the U.S. cage-free goal include:

-Transition to a 100% cage-free egg supply chain, based on available supply, affordability and customer demand by 2025.

-Require 100% of shell egg suppliers to be certified and fully compliant with United Egg Producers (UEP) Animal Husbandry Guidelines or equivalent standard; monitor compliance via annual third party.

-Challenge suppliers to use selective breeding practices, innovation and best management practices to improve the health and welfare of laying hens

Walmart will monitor and report on supplier’s continuous improvement against these metrics through its Sustainability Index, a tool that helps the company track the environmental impact and sourcing of products throughout the supply chain.

Related: Walmart releases new animal care, antibiotics policy

Since 2001, Walmart has offered customers the option of cage free eggs in its U.S. stores

Source: Walmart

Read more:

CNN Money – Walmart will switch to selling cage-free eggs only – Company joins growing list of companies who seek to use cage-free eggs. Other companies pledging to switch to cage-free include: McDonald’s, Nestle, Taco Bell, White Castle, General Mills and Kellogg’s.

Reuters – Wal-Mart to switch to cage-free egg supply chain by 2025 – Only 6% of U.S. hens, or about 18 million birds, are raised without cages, according to a recent estimate by United Egg Producers.

Eater – Walmart is the biggest brand yet to switch to cage-free eggs – Animal rights activists are celebrating the announcement. Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the U.S., said the announcement will make cage-free eggs the norm in the United States.