The Global Coalition for Animal Welfare

The world's first industry-led collaboration aimed at advancing animal welfare globally.

Find out more

Home

Over 70 billion animals are farmed for food annually

The Global Coalition for Animal Welfare (GCAW) is the world’s first food industry-led initiative aimed at advancing animal welfare globally. Launched in October 2018, the global platform unites major companies and animal welfare experts in improving animal welfare standards at scale and in meeting consumer demand for food products from animals reared in systems that promote good welfare.

Over 70% of the world’s 70 billion farm animals live in intensive systems, often in conditions where they are unable to move freely or behave naturally. The treatment of farm animals and the nature of the production systems in which they are reared is not only an ethical issue but one that connects to other issues such as food safety, human health and antimicrobial resistance, as well as environmental issues such as carbon emissions, water supply and land use.

About

The Global Coalition for Animal Welfare (GCAW) is a global platform uniting major companies and animal welfare experts in advancing animal welfare standards throughout the global food supply chain.

Founded by seven member companies, GCAW represents some of the largest names in global food production and food service: Aramark, Compass Group, Elior Group, IKEA Food Services, Nestlé, Sodexo and Unilever. With combined revenues of EUR 139 billion (USD 165 billion), and serving 3.7 billion customers per day, these companies have launched the Coalition to collectively address systemic barriers to improving animal welfare, accelerate the development of standards and drive progress on key welfare issues.

GCAW has identified five priority work streams including cage-free policies, improved broiler chicken welfare, farmed fish welfare, antimicrobial resistance, and global standards for transportation and slaughter.

Vision

An animal protein value chain that ensures animal welfare globally, to the benefit of humans and farm animals everywhere.

Mission

Develop and implement an action plan on priority animal welfare issues in global food production and increase the availability of food products from animals reared in systems that promote good welfare.

Scope

Applicable to all livestock food products. The main types of animal protein are poultry (e.g. broiler chicken, turkey, geese, duck), beef, pork, veal, rabbit, fish, egg and dairy products.

GCAW will advance animal welfare through:

Providing a platform for food companies to work more closely with farm animal welfare experts to identify common objectives and drive improvements;
Prioritizing welfare issues and developing roadmaps for industry change while supporting producers in implementing strong animal welfare practices.
Advancing animal welfare knowledge globally through industry insights, bespoke research and partnerships for action.

Who We Are

The Coalition has been developed by seven founder members: Aramark, Compass Group, Elior Group, IKEA Food Services, Nestlé, Sodexo, and Unilever.

Members will work with multi-disciplinary experts from academia, industry, inter-governmental organizations and civil society.

The Coalition is convened and managed by an independent Secretariat (Chronos Sustainability Ltd).

Aramark

Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) proudly serves Fortune 500 companies, world champion sports teams, state-of-the-art healthcare providers, the world’s leading educational institutions, iconic destinations and cultural attractions, and numerous municipalities in 19 countries around the world. Our 270,000 team members deliver experiences that enrich and nourish millions of lives every day through innovative services in food, facilities management and uniforms. We operate our business with social responsibility, focusing on initiatives that support our diverse workforce, advance consumer health and wellness, protect our environment, and strengthen our communities. Aramark is recognized as one of the World’s Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE, as well as an employer of choice by the Human Rights Campaign and DiversityInc. Learn more at www.aramark.com or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

aramark.com

Compass Group

Compass Group Plc is a British multinational contract foodservice company headquartered in Surrey. It is the largest contract foodservice company in the world with operations in around 50 countries, over 550,000 employees and servings of around 5.5 billion meals a year in 55 000 client locations. They provide food and support services across five sectors: Business & Industry, Healthcare & Seniors, Education, Sports & Leisure and Defence, Offshore & Remote.

compass-group.com

Elior Group

Founded in 1991, Elior Group has grown into one of the world's leading operators in the catering and support services industry, and has become a benchmark player in the business & industry, education, healthcare and travel markets. Now operating in 16 countries, the Group generated €6,422 million in revenue through 25,000 restaurants and points of sale in FY 2016-2017. Our 127,000 employees serve 5.5 million people on a daily basis, taking genuine care of each and every one by providing personalized catering and service solutions to ensure an innovative customer experience. We place particular importance on corporate social responsibility and have been a member of the United Nations Global Compact since 2004 and we reached the GC Advanced level in 2015. The professional excellence of our teams, as well as their unwavering commitment to quality and innovation and to providing best in-class service is embodied in our corporate motto: "Time savored". For further information please visit our website or follow us on Twitter: @Elior_Group

eliorgroup.com

IKEA Food Services

IKEA offers well-designed, functional and affordable, high-quality home furnishing, produced with care for people and the environment. There are several companies with different owners, working under the IKEA Brand, all sharing the same vision: to create a better everyday life for the many people. IKEA was founded in Sweden in 1943. IKEA Food Services AB, based in Malmö, Sweden, develops the global range for the IKEA Restaurants, Bistros and Swedish Food Markets in over 400 IKEA stores in 49 markets. With food at the heart of people’s everyday life, IKEA Food wants to offer a modern taste of Sweden – honest food for people and the planet.

IKEA Food

Nestlé

Nestlé S.A. is a Swiss transnational food and drink company headquartered in Vevey, Vaud, Switzerland. It is the world’s largest food and beverage company with more than 2000 brands, and is present in 189 countries around the world.

nestle.com

Sodexo

Sodexo is a French food services and facilities management company headquartered in Paris. Sodexo is one of the world's largest multinational corporations, with 420,000 employees in 80 countries. Sodexo serves many sectors, including private corporations, government agencies, schools, hospitals and clinics, assisted-living facilities, military bases, and prisons.

sodexo.com

Unilever

Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Beauty & Personal Care, Home Care, and Foods & Refreshment products with sales in over 190 countries and reaching 2.5 billion consumers a day. Over half (57%) of the company’s footprint is in developing and emerging markets. Unilever has more than 400 brands found in homes all over the world, including well-known food brands like Knorr, Hellmann’s, Lipton, Brooke Bond, Ben & Jerry’s and Magnum.

unilever.com

News

Leading food companies form the Global Coalition for Animal Welfare

Companies join forces to advance animal welfare standards throughout the global food supply chain. Launched today, the Global Coalition for Animal Welfare (GCAW) is the world’s first food industry-led initiative aimed at advancing animal welfare globally. The global platform unites major companies and animal welfare experts in improving animal welfare standards at scale and in meeting consumer demand for food products from animals reared in systems that promote good welfare.

Next members’ meeting: 2 November 2018, London
Read more

Resources

Here you will be able to download additional material and resources we have published by clicking on the links.

View All Downloads

Contact

For enquiries, please contact us

GCAW Secretariat, Chronos Sustainability Ltd, City Gates, 2-4 Southgate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8DJ. Let us know if you'd like to be kept updated with news and announcements.