The Open Wing Alliance (OWA) is a global coalition of 82 organizations. Initiated by The Humane League, the alliance is dedicated entirely to ending the abuse of chickens worldwide by mandating cage-free industry standards and improving broiler chicken welfare. OWA members and other animal protection organizations have helped secure 2,500+ cage-free commitments and 600+ broiler welfare policies, affecting millions of chickens worldwide.
For most caged egg-laying hens, life consists of intense confinement. Kept in crowded, wire “battery” cages, each bird gets less space than a single sheet of printer paper. They cannot stretch their wings, forage, or nest. After one to two years of constant egg production, their exhausted bodies are sent to slaughter.
Chickens with “free range” have access to the outdoors but may only have two square feet of space per bird. Generally considered the highest standard, “pasture raised” birds are rotated through open, grassy pastures with ample space (typically around 108 square feet per bird), allowing for natural foraging and scratching. Diet consists of seeds, grubs, and insects.
Cage-Free ‘Egg Credits’
Chicken welfare concerns have been top of mind for many lodging organizations in recent years with numerous hotel companies committing to 100 percent cage-free eggs. OWA reported this past week that Best Western Hotels & Resorts has purchased cage-free “egg credits”, marking a landmark step toward fulfilling its global 100 percent cage-free egg commitment. This is the first time I have come across the cage-free egg credits approach. (FYI, cage-free egg credits were invented by Global Food Partners, an animal welfare and food sustainability consultancy, and their partners, who launched the program in 2020.)
Cage-free credits enable companies to support certified cage-free egg producers while helping address temporary supply constraints in developing markets. Combined with direct cage-free sourcing, they provide a practical pathway for companies to continue advancing their animal welfare commitments while strengthening regional cage-free supply chains.
“By investing in cage-free credits, Best Western is taking responsibility for the welfare of hens in its supply chain while supporting the producers driving the growth of cage-free systems and helping accelerate progress in markets where transitions remain challenging,” OWA says. “This demonstrates how global hospitality companies must use practical solutions to uphold their animal welfare commitments and create meaningful change.”
Cage-free credits, like carbon credits, help smooth the way for companies with ambitious cage-free goals in an imperfect supply chain environment. The goal, of course, is to reach a point when cage-free credits are no longer needed.
Kudos to Best Western for utilizing this creative approach to help them toward their goal of 100 percent cage free.
Looking for Guest Columnists
Every two weeks Green Lodging News posts a new guest column on its website. (Click here for examples.) The guest column also appears in the weekly e-newsletter. Green Lodging News is currently in need of industry experts to contribute occasional guest columns. Experts may include consultants, architects, designers, suppliers, and those who own or operate green lodging establishments. Columns may be articles that take a stance on a particular subject or be strictly educational in nature. Columnists benefit by having their photo included along with a one paragraph description of their company. Interested in writing a column? Contact Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
Get in our Green Supplier Spotlights!
Green Lodging News, lodging’s leading environmental news source, publishes the Wednesday Green Supplier Spotlight and Thursday Green Suppliers Spotlight. Green Supplier Spotlight features just one vendor and Green Suppliers Spotlight features multiple vendors. Click here for a Green Supplier Spotlight sample and rate sheet. Click here for a Green Suppliers Spotlight sample and rate sheet. Both e-blasts that reach 17,896 subscribers have been built to generate quick leads. A report is sent a week after each e-blast that includes the number of e-mails sent, number of opens, and number of click-throughs. Contact Glenn Hasek at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com for more information.
Planning Advertising for 2026?
In addition to the Spotlight ads described above, Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for other advertising spots for 2026. Many excellent spots are available on our website and in the weekly e-mail newsletter. The Green Lodging News website last month welcomed 42,000 different visitors. Interested in receiving a 2026 media kit? Be sure to contact me as soon as possible at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com. Thank you to all those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.
Newsletter & Green Supplier Spotlight Circulation
The circulation of our weekly e-newsletter and Green Supplier Spotlights currently stands at 17,896. Thank you to our new subscribers for signing up. Be sure to encourage your colleagues to do the same. There are “subscribe” links on the Green Lodging News home page. You may also e-mail greenlodgingnews@gmail.com to be added to our list.
Green Lodging News & Social Media
Green Lodging News now has 1,621 Twitter followers. Thank you to all of those who follow our tweets. In addition to following us on Twitter, be sure to bookmark the Green Lodging News Blog in your browser. More importantly, participate with your comments. Green Lodging News is also on Facebook. Be sure to “Like” us there. Green Lodging News now has more than 1,200 Facebook followers.
As always, I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
