We've cracked it - University wins Good Egg Award

Awards from Compassion recognise food companies across Europe that are making it their policy to produce and source higher welfare eggs, meat and dairy produce.

The Good Egg Award celebrates companies that use or have committed to use cage-free eggs or egg products. To date more than 30 million laying hens are set to benefit each year from the policies of award winners.

The University of Exeter is one of five Higher Education institutions across the country to receive a Good Egg Award. Currently around 15,000 eggs are used by the Campus Services team on a monthly basis throughout the University’s catering outlets and catered halls of residence.

Phil Rees-Jones, Director of Commercial Operations said: “The Good Egg Award further supports and highlights the excellent progress and work we are doing with regards to our Sustainable Food Policy.”

Compassion has run its flagship scheme, the Good Egg Award, since 2007 to celebrate organisations that source only cage-free eggs. The programme has now expanded to include the Good Chicken Award, launched in 2010, the Good Dairy Award in 2011 and the Good Pig Award in 2012. Over 311 million hens, chickens, pigs and dairy cows and calves are now set to benefit each year as a result of award winners’ policies.

Tracey Jones, Director of Food Business at Compassion in World Farming said: "It is great to see the University of Exeter taking animal welfare into consideration as part of their sourcing policy. Higher welfare produce isn't just the responsibility of the large corporations, but something that can be achieved at all levels. Well done to the University - keep up the good work!"

The Good Egg Award supports the University of Exeter with its responsibility to carry out procurement activities in an environmentally and socially responsible manner as detailed in The Sustainable Food Policy 2013.