Resort operator Melco Resorts & Entertainment said in a recent statement that its commitment, in cooperation with the US-based Lever Foundation, to source only cage-free eggs for all its operations has helped Macau’s egg distributors expand the supply of cage-free eggs within a short period of time and make the products readily available in the local market, further benefiting the cage-free egg switch of other leading food businesses in the city, including food service providers, restaurants and bakeries, among others.
Lever Foundation, a global non-governmental organisation (NGO), works with leading companies to help them upgrade their protein sourcing for a more humane, safe, and sustainable supply chain, focusing on cage-free eggs and alternative protein.
“Cage-free egg policies not only benefit animal welfare, but also provide a safer and higher quality food option for consumers”, Lever Foundation Sustainability Programme Manager Anita Suen (孫曉彤) said in the statement, adding she was confident that the example of Melco’s commitment will enable more companies to source only cage-free eggs in the near future.
The statement quoted Melco Supply Chain Vice President Augusta Vargas-Prada as saying that the new cage-free egg policy was just one of the steps Melco was taking towards more sustainable and responsible practices.
Melco promised in the statement that it will provide 100 percent cage-free eggs by 2025 across its entire portfolio, adding that it will continue to sharpen its focus on the needs of the planet and its surrounding communities, and act upon its role in creating shared value through a commitment to “Rise to go Above & Beyond”.
The statement also quoted Yan Lo, general manager of a local leading egg distributor in Macau – Agência Commercial Heng Long – as saying: “We have been successfully providing at least 10 percent of our supply as cage-free eggs over the last couple of months to cater for the rising demand of other integrated resorts and large-scale food companies in Macau”.
According to the statement, cage-free eggs are laid by hens free to move around in barns and free-range environments without being confined to small cages.
This undated handout photo provided by Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited recently shows a flock of hens in a farm.
