Sweden says goodbye to cage eggs – voluntarily and completely

As early as 2021, all major supermarket chains stopped selling cage eggs.

The catering industry and food industry followed suit. According to the animal welfare organisation Project 1882, fewer than one percent of laying hens were still living in cages in 2024. All cage facilities are now empty.

“This is a historic success for animal welfare, demonstrating that change is possible even without state coercion,” says a spokesperson for Project 1882. Instead of a legal ban, Sweden relied on pressure from consumers, businesses and NGOs. Campaigns, transparency initiatives and demand for more animal-friendly products led to the virtual disappearance of the market for cage eggs.

A binding law has not yet been enacted, however. Animal welfare advocates continue to call for legal safeguards to prevent setbacks. Experience in other countries shows that economic crises or price increases could theoretically favour a return to cheaper farming practices.

With its voluntary phase-out, Sweden has sent a strong signal to the EU and beyond. Numerous countries – including Germany – are currently debating stricter animal welfare regulations. Sweden now serves as a model for how societal pressure and corporate responsibility can bring about profound change.

Whether and when a legal ban will follow remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that eggs from caged hens are history in Sweden – a precedent that is attracting international attention.

You can help all animals and our planet with compassion. Choose compassion on your plate and in your glass. Go vegan.