Supermarket giants Morrisons and Waitrose have confirmed their stance on the sale of brown eggs after Sainsbury’s announced it would stop selling them. Sainsbury’s, the UK’s second-largest supermarket chain, said it will only stock white-shell eggs under its own-brand label as part of efforts to become more sustainable. White eggs have a lower carbon footprint than their brown counterparts, and Sainsbury’s hopes that shifting away from the latter will help the company meet its net-zero targets.
Why White Eggs Are More Sustainable
White eggs are laid by white-feathered hens, which have a longer laying life and lower feed requirements. This means they produce the same egg output with less carbon demand. According to research from SAC Consulting, white eggs have a 12.7% lower carbon footprint. A spokesperson for Sainsbury’s, which aims to become net-zero in its own operations by 2035 and across all suppliers by 2050, said: “White eggs have the same delicious taste and nutritional benefits as their brown counterparts but result in lower carbon emissions and better welfare outcomes for the hens that lay them.”
Morrisons and Waitrose Continue Brown Egg Sales
Despite this, Morrisons and Waitrose have pledged to keep selling brown eggs. A Waitrose spokesman said the retailer could “achieve high welfare and reduce our environmental impact at the same time.” The spokesman added: “We are committed to the highest standards of animal welfare and quality, championing British eggs from trusted, high-welfare farms. We are also on track to achieve net zero across our UK farms by 2035, demonstrating that we can achieve high welfare and reduce our environmental impact at the same time.”
Meanwhile, Morrisons has pledged to keep brown eggs in its own-brand selection and promised shoppers the freedom to choose between both colours. The supermarket said: “Customers are continuously looking for ways to shop more sustainably.”
Background and Consumer Choice
Sainsbury’s decision to stop selling brown eggs is part of broader efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. However, Morrisons and Waitrose believe that offering both options allows customers to make their own sustainable choices. The debate highlights the balance between environmental goals and consumer preference in the retail sector.
