Regional Analysis

Company performance across the five regions covered by the BBFAW (Asia Pacific, Europe excluding the UK, Latin America, North America; and the UK) is similar to 2020, with UK domiciled companies achieving the highest overall average score across all regions at 59% (64% in 2020).

The second highest-scoring region was Europe (excluding the UK), which achieved an overall average score of 36% (40% in 2020).

The overall average score for companies in Latin America was 31% (32% in 2020) compared to 25% for companies in North America (29% in 2020). This is the second consecutive year that Latin America has outperformed the overall average score for companies in North America.

The overall average score for companies in Asia Pacific was 14% (15% in 2020).

BBFAW Methodology

The 2021 Benchmark doubled down on companies’ Performance Reporting and Impact’ by increasing the weighting of the questions in this section from 35% to 45% of the total score available.

This increased focus on impact (along with other changes in the methodology) resulted in 36 companies dropping a tier. However, given the scale of changes introduced in 2021, it is noteworthy that six companies - including Premier Foods who moved up into Tier 1 - improved their score sufficiently to increase their ranking by one tier.

The most widely reported performance impact data relates to cage-free production for laying hens – where 88 companies (59%) report some data, however, only 23 companies (15%) report that 60% or more of the laying hens in their global supply chains are cage-free.

Nicky Amos, Executive Director of the Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare and Managing Director of Chronos Sustainability concluded: “The BBFAW set out in 2012 to put farm animal welfare on the business and investor agenda and to significantly advance corporate management practice and disclosure on the issue. Ten years on, these objectives have been realised.

“Today, around 80% of the 150 companies assessed by BBFAW have strengthened their governance of farm animal welfare through formal policy commitments, objectives and targets. While this provides a strong foundation for action, companies need to demonstrate that their investments in farm animal welfare are delivering positive welfare impacts for animals on the ground.”

Future Scope

In 2022, there will be a substantial review of the BBFAW assessment criteria to ensure it is focused on the most effective areas for driving change for a future-fit food system:

to ensure that all farmed animals experience a good quality of life and positive welfare states
to significantly reduce the number of animals farmed for food
to reduce our reliance on animal sourced foods

Companies, investors, NGOs and other stakeholders will be consulted on the proposed changes.

The timing of the 2022 Benchmark assessments (usually conducted in August through September) are likely to be delayed until the first quarter of 2023 to allow sufficient time for the review process and consultation with companies, investors and other stakeholders.

Find out more about BBFAW here.

2021 BBFAW Report Launched Today!