Sweden has achieved a groundbreaking animal-welfare milestone: it is now the first country in the world where no egg-laying hens are kept in cages—all achieved without a legal mandate.
This historic shift results from decades of persistent advocacy, public campaigning, corporate engagement, and consumer pressure led by Project 1882 and like-minded organizations .
Since the early 2000s, over 85 major companies—including retailers, restaurants, and public institutions—committed to eliminating cage eggs from their supply chains. Municipalities also began excluding caged-egg suppliers from public procurement.
By June 2025, regional data confirmed that all cages are now empty, sparing more than 17 million hens from confinement .
Despite this success, there’s no legal ban—raising concerns that cages could return if voluntary commitments falter. Project 1882 is now urging Sweden’s government to convert this achievement into law, ensuring permanent protection for hens and potentially inspiring similar reforms across Europe.
Source: Project 1882
