We have stringent audit processes that we enforce throughout our supply chain as well as require that our suppliers’ employment practices meet our Vendor Code of Conduct. Our code of conduct prohibits forced labor/slavery as well as establishing our expectations for employment, workplace practices, compensation and benefits, discrimination, health and safety. We are continuously working towards making the safeguards of our supply chain more robust and ensuring compliance to our standards.

We recognise the vital importance of sustainable fishing - both commercially and ecologically. Our long-term goal is to work with the industry to move to more sustainable practices worldwide including sourcing our seafood from independently certified sustainable fisheries, supporting protected areas and maintaining healthy and sustainable fish stocks.

Palm oil is used as an ingredient in a small number of Subway® products due to its desired baking / functional characteristics and because it supports our initiative to eliminate added trans fats. We believe the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is the primary sustainability standard for palm oil products and have been sourcing RSPO certified palm oil for Subway® products in Europe since 2015.

In Europe, 100% of the eggs we purchase are free-range . Subway® has been sourcing free-range eggs since 2010, winning “Good Egg Awards” from Compassion in World Farming (CIWF).

At Subway®, we take the welfare of our chicken supply seriously. In 2021, we signed the European Chicken Commitment (ECC), which requires our suppliers* to review current practices and meet the standards for 100% of the chicken* in its European managed supply chain.

We can’t do this alone, and with the support of the industry and our suppliers we will continue to monitor our progress against six requirements to help transform 100% of chicken* welfare for the better in our European supply chain. Signing up to the European Chicken Commitment isn’t a tick box exercise, we do it because we believe in the need for better chicken welfare, and the safety and quality of our product.

Where do we stand after a year?
Subway® requires suppliers to report on their chicken welfare and we have committed to assessing progress through supplier questionnaires, third party assurance certifications and site audit reports. Listed below, is an update on the progress we’ve made to date since joining in July 2021.

• Nearly 40% of broiler chickens that are reared at stocking densities of 30kg/m2
• Approx 40% of broiler chickens provided with specific environmental enrichment such as natural light
• 44% of broiler chickens provided with specific environmental enrichment such as perches and pecking substrates
• 13% leg cull rate in each year
• Nearly 50% of third-party auditing

The six ECC requirements:

• Comply with all EU animal welfare laws and regulations, regardless of the country of production.
• Implement a maximum stocking density of 30kg/m2 or less. Thinning is discouraged and if practiced must be limited to one thin per flock.
• Adopt breeds that demonstrate higher welfare outcomes: either the following breeds, Hubbard Redbro (indoor use only); Hubbard Norfolk Black, JA757, JACY57, 787, 957, or 987, Rambler Ranger, Ranger Classic, and Ranger Gold, or other breeds that meet the criteria of the RSPCA Broiler Breed Welfare Assessment Protocol.
• Meet improved environmental standards including:
  • At least 50 lux of light, including natural light.
  • At least two metres of usable perch space, and two pecking substrates, per 1,000 birds.
  • On air quality, the maximum requirements of Annex 2.3 of the EU broiler directive, regardless of stocking density.
  • No cages or multi-tier systems.
• Adopt controlled atmospheric stunning using inert gas or multi-phase systems, or effective electrical stunning without live inversion.
• Demonstrate compliance with the above standards via third-party auditing and annual public reporting on progress towards this commitment.

Statement of Intent
Electrical waterbath stunning is the main method used globally for the slaughter of poultry. There are, however, significant animal welfare concerns with this method and in 2012 the European Food Safety Authority called for an end to its use[1]. Effective electric alternatives are yet to be developed. However, recognising that under halal standards, Controlled Atmosphere Systems may not be accepted as the animal must not be dead at the time of slaughter (cutting), it is a bare minimum that a stunning method which renders the animal insensible to pain, but still alive, is developed and adopted as soon as possible –

We Subway® agree to:
Actively press our suppliers and support the latest research projects[2] to find alternatives to electrical waterbath as a matter of urgency;

Support the call for the use of water bath stunning to be banned by 2026, and new, more humane systems for the effective electric stunning of poultry without conscious inversion to be developed and commercially available by no later than 1st January 2026;

Commit to investing and adopting such a stunning method (without conscious inversion) as soon as it is commercially available.

*This applies to all frozen and processed chicken in Subway's® European managed supply chain
[1] ESFA 2012 report, pg.35
[2] For example, by engaging with the Effective Electrical Stunning roundtable convened by Compassion in World Farming.

Subway® recognizes the importance of sow and piglet welfare in our pork supply chain, and we support sow husbandry and housing approaches that create improved animal welfare outcomes. We have completely phased out gestation crates in our European supply chain.