The Norwegian Animal Protection Alliance (NAPA) has contributed to making animal welfare a mandatory field to consider for 170 Norwegian companies. This is a breakthrough for the business sector’s commitment to animal welfare.

Businesses have a social responsibility for animal welfare. Here is NAPA's head of science, Marianne Kulø, together with manager of sustainable trading in NorgesGruppen, Bjart Pedersen. Ethical Trade Norway is a network of businesses, organisations and public entities with members ranging from some of Norway’s largest food companies and clothing stores, to municipalities, universities and non-profit NGOs. In cooperation with sister organisations in England and Denmark, as well as similar initiatives in other countries, Ethical Trade Norway works for ethical trade worldwide.

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In 2017, NAPA became a member of Ethical Trade Norway and have since intensified the work to strengthen competence on animal welfare within the organisation and for members. As a result, this April a section about this was added to the principles for ethical trade, making it mandatory for members to work for improvements in animal welfare alongside worker’s rights and environmental protection.

This places Ethical Trade Norway at the forefront in terms of animal welfare, as its sister organisations in England and Denmark have not made the same inclusion in their principles.

Head of science Marianne Kulø has been leading the work for NAPA, and says this will have widespread consequences for animals in Norway and internationally.

– The change reflects an increased awareness in the business sector that animals must be given moral consideration. 

The companies will learn more about how their operations are affecting animals and how they can avoid the worst issues and progressively improve welfare standards in their supply chains.

– It will also raise awareness of the corporate sector’s social responsibility for animals internationally, Kulø concludes.

Learn more about the Norwegian Animal Protection Alliance.