Sainsbury's switches to white eggs to cut carbon footprint by 12.7%

Sainsbury's is phasing out brown eggs from all its own-brand lines and replacing them with white eggs. The supermarket says white eggs have a 12.7% lower carbon footprint because white-feathered hens eat less feed, live longer, and lay eggs for a longer period. The move is part of the retailer's broader sustainability goals for the UK food system. White eggs are already common in restaurants but rarely seen on UK supermarket shelves. Sainsbury's claims the switch also improves animal welfare since white hens are less prone to feather pecking. The transition will happen gradually as the retailer works with suppliers to shift production. While the carbon savings per egg are modest, the scale of a national supermarket chain making this switch could add up. It also signals that retailers are looking at incremental changes across their supply chains to meet emissions targets. Whether shoppers will accept white eggs remains to be seen, but Tesco already stocked them during pandemic shortages.