Why is Doug ignoring animal cruelty in Target’s supply chain?
Who is Douglas Baker?
Target is neglecting concerns of animal cruelty. The company is falling behind the food industry by continuing to sell eggs from caged hens. Despite stakeholder concerns, Target continues to support controversial battery cage farms where chickens are confined in cages so small that they can barely move with no plan to phase them out. This practice is so unsafe and inhumane that it is illegal in many U.S. states and the entire European Union.
When confronted with these concerns, Target director Doug Baker has remained silent.
What’s the problem?
Doug is a career executive with decades of experience. He is currently a Founding Partner of E2SG Partners, LP, a company that invests in new green technologies. He previously served as CEO and Board Chair at Ecolab, a provider of water and hygiene services and technologies. He has also served on the boards of Merck & Co., and U.S. Bancorp. Most importantly, in 2013, he joined the Board of Directors at Target.
Now he’s facing scrutiny for ignoring animal cruelty concerns.
Can customers trust Target to do the right thing?
Target has historically enjoyed a positive reputation for its commitments to sustainability, social responsibility, and transparency. Now, the company has a concerning track record of weakening or backtracking on animal welfare policies. The company is even falling behind U.S. fast food chains such as McDonald’s and Taco Bell that have eliminated battery cage eggs from their menus. Retail giant Costco is nearly 100 percent cage-free and even dollar stores are installing signs on their egg shelves to educate customers and help shift the market toward cage-free eggs.