Open Farm was founded on rigorous ethical sourcing principles in 2014 when we realized through our own search for sustainable and ethically sourced pet food that this was a major gap. Since then, we have sourced all our meat in a way that is consistent with our belief that animals deserve to be treated with kindness and respect.
We admit it, we’re pretty intense about ethical sourcing. Every ingredient in each Open Farm bag is carefully sourced from the most humane and ethical farms and ranches. To do this we partner with progressive farmers who practice the highest standards of farm animal welfare and with certifications to audit our supply chain and ensure we’re sourcing the most ethically raised meat. This means healthier and happier animals and more nutritious ingredients for your pet.
In 2022, we adopted the Better Chicken Commitment policy, which unites producers, brands, and NGOs that are working to improve chicken welfare. Specifically, we are committed to Version 2 of the Better Chicken Commitment. The Better Chicken Commitment focuses on addressing issues in broiler chickens related to breeding for fast-growth, housing conditions, stocking density, and slaughter.
In the past year since adopting the Better Chicken Commitment Version 2, we have made tremendous progress in several key areas:
| BCC attribute | % of supply | Date accomplished or target date |
|---|---|---|
| Slower growing breeds | 25% | 2026 |
| Utilizing a multi-step controlled-atmosphere processing system | 70% | 2024 |
| Ample room to roam inside chicken houses | 100% | 2014 |
| Flooring substrate to enhance animal comfort and hygiene | 100% | 2014 |
| Lighting program including continuous hours of darkness for rest | 100% | 2014 |
| Environmental enrichments to encourage natural behavior | 100% | 2014 |
| Third-party auditing to demonstrate compliance | 100% | 2014 |
We are excited to share the progress we’ve made but know we still have work to do to transition to slower-growing breeds by 2026 and to controlled atmosphere processing for 100% of our supply by 2024. The foundation of our brand was built on sourcing meat with the highest animal welfare standards available and we are proud of the progress we’ve made with our farmers and suppliers over the past year.
