Recently, the term “animal welfare” has become more common. Singapore seems to have many people who enjoy traveling. Among them, the number of people taking their dogs on beach trips is increasing. Helen Chan works for a human resources development company. His first overseas trip with his dog was in 2022. He gathered information on social media and chose Switzerland, known for being “pet-friendly.” Just like humans, pets face various restrictions when traveling. Only a limited number of airlines allow pets in the cabin, and there are restrictions based on breed and weight. Spending long periods in a cage is difficult and unsuitable for dogs and cats. However, in Switzerland, he was able to bring his pet into restaurants without putting it in a carrier. He was deeply impressed by this and enjoyed a three-week road trip with his dog.
This concept of animal welfare is being applied not only to pets but also to livestock. Animal welfare is the idea of reducing stress and suffering for animals and livestock under human care, and ensuring they can live comfortably. The pioneering model for international animal welfare standards is practiced by dairy farmers in EU countries such as Germany. This model involves ensuring animals enjoy five freedoms during their growth and maturation. The “Five Freedoms” are international guidelines for ensuring that animals under human management (livestock, pets, and laboratory animals) live healthy, stress-free lives. Proposed in the UK in the 1960s, they represent liberation from hunger, discomfort, disease, and fear, and the provision of an environment where animals can behave naturally.
Generally, when investor confidence in a company increases, its stock price tends to rise. In this sense, companies are required to be sensitive to and respond to changes in the awareness of shareholders and consumers. Against this backdrop, shareholder proposals related to animal welfare have been increasing in the US and EU in recent years. In 2024, the number of shareholder proposals related to animal welfare in the US is projected to reach at least 30. The content of these proposals appears to focus on transparency in animal testing. The main aim is to increase transparency to the public and curb excessive animal testing. In response to this proposal, companies such as Bayer in Germany, Novartis in Switzerland, and Novo Nordisk in Denmark have begun disclosing the number of laboratory animals they purchase. McDonald’s, which uses large quantities of livestock meat, has also disclosed its animal welfare initiatives. McDonald’s animal welfare efforts are based on the “Five Freedoms” of livestock, and aim to minimize stress and suffering from rearing to slaughter. They have established standards to improve animal health and quality of life throughout the supply chain, including the introduction of cage-free eggs, adherence to humane processing procedures (AHW), and a ban on the use of growth-promoting antibiotics. The possibility of animal welfare being linked to corporate value is becoming a reality.
