Joint press release by Silks Hotel Group, Environment & Animal Society of Taiwan and Taiwan Mennonite New Dawn Educare Center

Silks Hotel Group (SHG), a multinational hotel chain based in Taiwan, partnered with the non-profit animal protection organization, Environment & Animal Society of Taiwan, and the Taiwan Mennonite New Dawn Educare Center for people living with physical or intellectual disabilities, to advocate for sustainable practices in Taiwan's agriculture sector. Their collaboration was unveiled at a press conference on April 25th, where SHG pledged to purchase cage-free eggs as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts and in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SHG announced that by the end of 2026, all restaurants in Regent Taipei will fully transition to using cage-free eggs, with other hotels in the group following suit to complete the transition by 2030. This initiative not only seeks to enhance conditions for egg-laying hens but also aims to cultivate a culture of compassion towards animals and the environment.

▸ See Appendix for the full text of Silks Hotel Group's cage-free egg sourcing initiative.

Simon Wu, Chief Operating Officer of Silks Hotel Group, emphasized SHG's long-standing commitment to environmental sustainability. Drawing insights from the Environment & Animal Society of Taiwan, SHG recognized the suffering endured by billions of hens in traditional battery cages, along with the health risks posed to both humans and animals and threats to environmental sustainability. Subsequently, the Group initiated discussions to implement new policies. Starting from April 1st, Regent Taipei began using EAST Certified free range eggs, sourced from New Dawn Care Farm, where hens are cared for by employees living with disabilities. The hotel plans to gradually implement the use to cage-free eggs throughout its food supply chain, starting at the second floor Gallery Lounge and Robin’s Steakhouse and Teppanyaki, with an estimated total annual consumption of 52,000 kilograms across all its restaurants.

Ms. Yu-Min Chen, Deputy Chief Executive the Environment & Animal Society of Taiwan, highlighted the grim reality that seventy percent of egg-laying hens in Taiwan are still subjected to cruel confinement in outdated "battery cage" systems. This lifelong captivity denies hens their natural behaviors, leading to physical and mental health issues and aggressive behaviors within the flock. Hens confined in battery cages are prone to respiratory, digestive, immune system, and skeletal problems; to address these issues and avoid economic losses, prophylactic antibiotics are routinely administered in their feed. As a consequence of being mentally and physically compromised, hens struggle to adapt to climatic changes and disease threats, leading to mass culling due to illness and weakness, putting Taiwan at risk of prolonged egg shortages and the spread of zoonotic diseases affecting both humans and animals.

Furthermore, Regent Taipei introduced a special Mother's Day cake, "Strawberry Pistachio Mousse," which won the 23rd Gateaux Cup Taiwan Cake Skills Competition. This delectable dessert, made using free range eggs, features layers of pistachio biscuits, Fruity Mona strawberry chocolate almond sponge, strawberry jam, pistachio mousse, and strawberry mousse, showcasing rich berry flavors and textures. The use of free range eggs symbolizes gratitude and respect for the dedicated egg-laying hens and brings us one step closer to environmental sustainability.

Silks Hotel Group cage-free egg sourcing policy
Regent Taipei adheres to a management philosophy that values harmony with humans, animals, and the environment, prioritizes ingredient quality, and respects animal welfare. Starting in 2024, the hotel's specialty restaurants will switch to using cage-free eggs, with full implementation expected by 2026. By 2030, all restaurants under the Silks Hotel Group, including those at Regent Taipei, will have embraced this approach. This effort is in line with global Sustainable Development Goals, showcasing our dedication as responsible global citizens.

Link to Silks Hotel Group's cage-free sourcing policy (in Chinese)

Media contacts
Beth Tsai, Marketing and Communications Director at Regent Taipei: +886 (9) 5508 6730
Tina Lee, Marketing and Communications Manager at Regent Taipei: +866 (9) 5508 7677
Yu-Min Chen, Deputy Chief Executive of Environment & Animal Society of Taiwan: +866 (9) 1015 0908