Davao's Leading Brands Advance Animal Welfare and Sustainability with Cage-Free Initiatives

Davao, Philippines Apr 30, 2025 (Issuewire.com) In the heart of Davao City, four businesses are stepping up to demonstrate how sustainable and ethical food sourcing can be achieved. ECHOstore Davao, Verdeli, Malagos Garden Resort, and SafeBasket Davao are showcasing how businesses can integrate sustainable practicesincluding the use of cage-free eggsinto their operations, contributing to a shift toward responsible consumption in the region.

Sarah Claudio, licensee-founder of ECHOstore Davao and Verdeli, has prioritized sustainability in every aspect of her businesses. ECHOstore not only sells locally sourced products, such as artisanal coffee and handwoven crafts, but it is also committed to using exclusively cage-free eggs in all its operations.

"At ECHOstore and Verdeli, we are committed to using only cage-free eggs as part of our broader vision of sustainability and community empowerment," Claudio shared. "This decision is part of how we ensure our operations align with our values."

At restaurant Verdeli, sustainability extends to the menu, which features plant-based options and where all eggs, when sufficient and available, come from its on-site mini farm, where free-range chickens lay cage-free eggs. This integration highlights the potential for small businesses to lead by example in balancing ethical responsibility with culinary innovation.

Meanwhile, Malagos Garden Resort demonstrates its ongoing commitment to sustainability through its 100% cage-free egg sourcing across all operations. Renowned for its farm-to-table dining and dedication to responsible cacao production, the resort sets a precedent for responsible food sourcing in Davao's hospitality industry.

"Our use of only cage-free eggs reflects our dedication to sustainability and humane practices," said Jane Duran, Director of Sales at Malagos Garden Resort. "This aligns with our core values while ensuring a dining experience that resonates with our guests' values."

Meanwhile, SafeBasket Davao, a tech-forward e-commerce platform, has been transforming regional food distribution. The platform has spent the past nine months developing an efficient system that makes online delivery affordable and practical while creating direct market access for local farmers. Through partnerships with farmer groups, cooperatives, and agricultural organizations, SafeBasket enables farmers to own their distribution channels, fostering a more efficient and equitable food system. While the platform already offers cage-free eggs and surplus produce, it has committed to transitioning 100% of the eggs sold on its website to cage-free.

"Our mission is to connect households with fresh, responsibly sourced food while minimizing waste and empowering local farmers. Farmers can directly reach consumers through our new system, ensuring better returns for producers and fresher products for customers. To reinforce our commitment to sustainability, we're excited to commit to selling exclusively cage-free eggs by 2028," said James Batugan, Founder of SafeBasket.

These businesses reflect a growing movement in Davao City toward sustainability and ethical food sourcing. By committing to improvements such as sourcing only cage-free eggs, they are setting benchmarks for others to follow while demonstrating that small changes can collectively drive significant impact.

"Were inspired by the dedication of these Davao-based companies to improve animal welfare and environmental stewardship," said Robyn del Rosario, Sustainability Program Manager at Lever Foundation, who worked with the companies on their commitment. "Their efforts are significant for Davao and contribute to a growing nationwide shift toward sustainability."