--- title: "Waitrose to keep brown eggs after Sainsbury’s net zero crackdown" type: "News" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/288762918.md" description: "Waitrose and Morrisons have pledged to continue stocking brown eggs, diverging from Sainsbury's decision to switch exclusively to white-shell eggs to meet net zero targets. While Sainsbury's cites lower carbon emissions from smaller hens laying white eggs, Waitrose argues it can maintain high welfare standards with brown eggs. Morrisons will offer both options for consumer choice. This move highlights differing strategies among UK supermarkets in balancing environmental goals with consumer preferences." datetime: "2026-06-04T19:10:24.000Z" locales: - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/288762918.md) - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/288762918.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/288762918.md) generator: "portal-rs" --- # Waitrose to keep brown eggs after Sainsbury’s net zero crackdown Waitrose and Morrisons have pledged to keep stocking brown eggs even as Sainsbury’s ditches them in pursuit of net zero. The two supermarkets confirmed to The Telegraph that they had no plans to phase out brown eggs in favour of white shells, which have a lower carbon footprint. It comes after Sainsbury’s said it would shift to selling only white-shell eggs across its own-brand range as it races to hit net zero targets. White-shell eggs are more carbon-efficient compared with brown because the hens that lay them tend to be smaller and consume less energy-intensive feed. Sainsbury’s hopes to reach net zero across its own operations by 2035 and across all of its suppliers by 2050. The supermarket said the switch to white-shelled eggs would “result in lower emissions and better welfare outcomes for the hens that lay them”. However, Waitrose has the same net zero targets as Sainsbury’s and confirmed it still planned to stock brown eggs. A spokesman said it was able to “achieve high welfare and reduce our environmental impact at the same time”. Morrisons confirmed it had no plans to phase out brown eggs from its own-brand range and pledged to provide shoppers with a choice of both colours so customers can decide for themselves. White-shelled eggs were the most common variety in Britain up until the 1980s when brown became more predominant. The switch happened after customers started to believe brown eggs were healthier, though the nutritional value of both is the same. A surge in demand for eggs during the Covid-19 pandemic led some retailers to stock white eggs on shelf alongside the usual brown-shelled eggs. Since then, many supermarkets have also began stocking them for environmental reasons. Morrisons began stocking cartons of white eggs under its own-brand Chuckle range in 2024, specifically citing the environmental benefits. At the time, the supermarket said it was introducing white eggs because “customers are continuously looking for ways to shop more sustainably”. The eggs are sold alongside brown alternatives. Will Lea, the vice-chair of the National Farmers’ Union’s poultry board, said: “White-shell eggs still only make up a small percentage of the overall domestic market, but production has been increasing in the UK. “It will be interesting to see what opportunities this presents for the poultry sector in years to come.” Mr Lea said many chicken farmers were keen to expand production of white-shelled eggs because the hens have a longer and more reliable laying cycle. However, he cautioned that it was “crucial that the supply chain works collaboratively to ensure consumer acceptance”, amid fears that shoppers could reject white eggs unless they are reassured that they are equivalent to brown. White-shelled eggs account for three quarters of all that are consumed in the US. A Waitrose spokesman said: “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.” ### Related Stocks - [MRW.UK](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/MRW.UK.md) - [SBRY.UK](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SBRY.UK.md) ## Related News & Research - [Sainsbury’s ditches brown eggs in net zero drive](https://longbridge.com/en/news/288617150.md) - [Asda suffers eight months of falling sales](https://longbridge.com/en/news/296188859.md) - [Tribe Property Technologies Inc. reports Q2 results](https://longbridge.com/en/news/296953133.md) - [09:02 ETAlveo Technologies Partners with AgriNerds to Create First-of-its-Kind, Dynamic Avian Influenza Surveillance System for U.S. Poultry Farmers](https://longbridge.com/en/news/296919038.md) - [Vyome Holdings, Inc. reports Q2 results](https://longbridge.com/en/news/296950745.md) --- > **Disclaimer: This article is for reference only and does not constitute any investment advice.**