Frequently Asked Questions

No individual organisation is in charge of the Better Chicken Commitment. In 2016, animal welfare scientists from leading nonprofit organisations reached a unanimous consensus on broiler production’s most pressing evidence-based welfare concerns. The result of that agreement was a set of standards that will meaningfully improve the welfare of chickens by establishing a baseline for their treatment.

Companies wishing to adopt the Better Chicken Commitment and inform consumers of their commitment to animal welfare will publicly announce that they currently sell, or plan to sell, exclusively chicken meeting the Better Chicken Commitment standards or better.

This often takes the form of a statement on their website or press release, accompanied by a roadmap describing expected timelines for implementation. Many larger companies can also expect to receive media exposure.

Suppliers interested in being featured on the website are encouraged to contact us with more information and a link to your BCC statement, or with any additional questions.

Yes. Adopting the Better Chicken Commitment lets consumers, partners, and the media know that your company is committed to corporate social responsibility and serving quality food. This message is crucial and may not be adequately conveyed through your relationship with a supplier alone, because some suppliers do not exclusively raise BCC-compliant chicken.

It is essential that companies interested in sourcing BCC-compliant products communicate their policy requirements to chicken suppliers and create a step-by-step plan for making any necessary supply chain adjustments.

No. The Better Chicken Commitment is not a certification or verification program, but instead a public commitment to improving animal welfare. Therefore, we encourage companies to sign on today regardless of the specific circumstances of their current supply chain.

To transition successfully, we also encourage businesses to make a plan with their supplier for how they’ll meet their animal welfare goals and on what timeline. Updating your public commitment with incremental, annual benchmarks for each standard of the Better Chicken Commitment, sometimes referred to as a “roadmap” or “glide path,” is strongly encouraged and can adapt to your current needs and goals.

No. There are zero fees associated with adopting the Better Chicken Commitment.

At its core, the Better Chicken Commitment is about increasing consumer choice. It ensures that businesses provide the more humane products that consumers demand, and that buyers know which brands they can trust.

Some companies still worry that the Better Chicken Commitment will reduce their option to sell the lowest-priced meat products. However, the affordability of BCC-compliant chicken will improve with scale.

The Better Chicken Commitment allows companies to cater to their markets more effectively by meeting customer demand for affordable and more humane products.

• An extension beyond the original 2026 deadline may be considered where a company can demonstrate genuine feasibility constraints, such as sourcing or supply issues. You will need to provide evidence of constructive steps to demonstrate progress toward the original commitment through annual reporting and publish an updated timeline / roadmap.
• Please read the Deadline Extension Guidance document and contact your chosen NGO partner to discuss how to move forward as soon as possible.

• Companies that want to demonstrate genuine leadership on broiler welfare should begin setting out their next steps by publishing a clear Better Chicken Commitment transition roadmap.
• Having a public roadmap sends a strong signal to your stakeholders — including current and potential suppliers, consumers, investors and the NGO community — that your business is actively planning its transition to higher-welfare production.
• It demonstrates that your business is committed to chicken welfare by outlining clear goals and securing the necessary investments to meet achievable deadlines.
• A roadmap is the main point of reference for the teams across your business, including decision makers and C-suite, detailing a clear, confident path to higher welfare chicken.
• It provides clarity to current and potential suppliers and gives them the confidence needed to invest and collaborate effectively.

• Roadmaps need to be developed at two levels.
• The first is a high-level, public-facing transition roadmap that outlines what the company intends to achieve, and by when, across all relevant criteria. This should include current-year reporting that clearly states the company’s present position.
• The second is a confidential internal roadmap that provides the detailed analysis behind the public plan. It should explain how the company intends to meet its commitment, including the financial strategy and the rationale for proposed timelines. The roadmap should be informed by a comprehensive assessment of the company’s supply chain, identifying gaps between current supply and Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) requirements, and outlining the actions and solutions to address those gaps. Companies may also choose to include associated communications plans.
• For support, companies can contact Compassion in World Farming’s Food Business team for access to its FREE Broiler Roadmap Training Modules, designed to help businesses understand their supply chains, identify solutions to the main barriers they face, and help build confidence to develop and implement effective BCC roadmaps.

• Publicise a clear and robust roadmap.
• Be transparent with regular progress reporting in the public domain.
• Bring your customers on your journey to higher welfare chicken - promote the importance of the BCC and the steps you are taking to fulfil this commitment.
• Consider using Compassion in World Farming’s ‘Committed to Better Chicken’ visual identity for your digital communications – get in touch to learn more.