How Sweden became cage-free
After several years of persistent advocacy by Project 1882, millions of hens are no longer confined to a life in cages. This is the story of one of our greatest victories for the animals.
This story has a happy ending, but it began at rock bottom. Project 1882 had suffered major defeats, and morale at the headquarters was at an all-time low. The year was 2008, two years into Sweden’s first centre-right government in over a decade. The Swedish Animal Welfare Agency, founded just four years earlier as a flagship institution to address blatant animal welfare issues, had just been dismantled by the government. On top of that, the century’s best chance to ban mink farming had collapsed.
– Decades of work disappeared. We had breakthroughs within reach, but they slipped through our fingers. It was a huge blow to our confidence. And, as always when things go wrong, everyone wants to fire the coach, recalls Benny Andersson, now CEO and then campaign manager at Project 1882.
There was bickering and grumbling in the corridors of Project 1882’s Stockholm office. Who was to blame for the Animal Welfare Agency collapsing after only three years? Or for the mink industry’s successful stalling of legislation that would have ended their operations? To make matters even worse, Project 1882’s membership numbers had also been steadily declining for over a decade.
– We felt like losers. Morale was incredibly low, there was no energy, and our meetings were depressing and draining. I knew we needed to get our fighting spirit back. We needed to start winning battles again, Benny recalls.
The question was: What was the lowest-hanging fruit? At Project 1882’s Gothenburg branch, the mood was more optimistic. Benny’s inbox received obscure newsletters – including one from U.S. animal advocates. Barack Obama had just won the presidential election, and at the same time, Californians had voted to end battery cages for hens. California became one of the first states in the U.S. to phase out cages in the egg industry. Perhaps it was worth launching a new campaign against battery cages in Sweden, this time by pressuring companies to boycott cage eggs?
– Some had become so worn out on the battery cage struggle that they had nearly given up, Benny Andersson explains.
It took roughly sixteen years of relentless campaigning for Project 1882 to dismantle cages in the Swedish egg industry. During that time, at least 17 million hens avoided a life in cages as a direct result of Project 1882’s corporate pressure.
– Project 1882’s members have shown that change is possible, even when politics fails. Sweden becoming free from cages in the egg industry is incredibly important for the hens – and a victory for everyone who stood by their side, says Benny Andersson.
Key milestones 1988–2025:
1988
A new animal welfare law in Sweden promises a ban on cages. 95 % of hens are kept in barren battery cages.
1997–2005
Battery cages are banned, and egg labelling is introduced to help consumers avoid cage eggs. But the so called "enriched" cages were allowed.
2008
Project 1882 launches its first corporate campaign against the keeping of hens in cages. Hemköp becomes the first retailer to say no to cage eggs. 40 % of hens are still in cages.
2013–2017
Coop, Willys, Lidl, Netto, and City Gross in Sweden phase out caged eggs, resulting in a rapid decline in the number of hens kept in cages.
2017
New efforts target getting food chains to phase out cage eggs entirely, including as ingredient in their private-label products. 13 % of hens live in cages.
2019
The three largest wholesalers in Sweden adopt cage-free commitments. 8 % of hens remain in cages.
2020–2021
The European Commission promises a ban on cages following the End the Cage Age citizens’ initiative, co-led by Project 1882.
2021
After 13 years of campaigning, the last retailer ICA goes cage-free. 95 % of municipalities in Sweden exclude cage eggs in their public procurement. 3.5 % of hens are still in cages.
2024–2025
The wholesaler Martin & Servera completes its phase-out of caged eggs. In total, over 85 companies have adopted commitments after dialogue with Project 1882. Less than 1 % of hens remain in cages.
2025
Project 1882 receives confirmation that all cages are empty. At least 17 million hens have been saved from a life in cages since 2008.
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