April may be Earth Month, but at Formaticum, we have always been committed to sustainability no matter what time of year it is. That's why our founder has sourced products that are free from plasticizers, PFAs, and BPAs, as well as making sure that we offer a variety of plastic-free and compostable materials. In today's world, it can be difficult to know what the best practices are, which is why we've put together a list of ways to improve your sustainability practices at home, to help you become a more responsible consumer of cheese.
1. Ditch the plastic wrap and plastic bags and store your cheese properly. Wrapping your cheese in professional quality cheese paper will keep it healthier, longer, ultimately reducing waste and preserving the flavor. Aside from being incredibly user-friendly, our plastic-free and compostable Zero Cheese Storage Bags and new Reusable Cheese Storage Bags are better for the earth and better for the cheese!
Browse our full selection of cheese storage products and tools.
2. If you don't have the ability to compost, you can reduce food waste by using less-than-perfect herbs, vegetables, fruit, etc. to make added value products like compound butter or flavored cream cheese. If you have cheese in your fridge that has a bit of surface mold, don't toss it! You can scrape off the mold and remove the rind, and then shred or grate it into macaroni and cheese or fondue. After you've grated your whole piece of Parmigiano Reggiano or Grana Padano, freeze the rinds to use in future soups and sauces.
3. Buy less cheese, more often. Buying only what you need when you need it ensure that no cheese will go to waste, and that you will always be consuming a piece of cheese that is as fresh as possible.
4. Know who you are buying from. Research the cheeses you are purchasing to learn the producer's practices and decide if their values are in line with yours. Try to purchase cheese from producers and farmers who are committed to sustainable practices, such as regenerative farming & agriculture, plastic-free packaging, climate action planning, equity and diversity work, community education and service, land and wildlife preservation, and ethical treatment of animals….just to name a few. As a consumer, you vote with your dollar, so it's important to understand that you are supporting the producer's values by purchasing their product.
5. Talk to your cheesemonger! Cheesemongers are a wealth of information and can guide you to a cheese that both satisfies your needs and represents the morals and ethics you want to uphold. Additionally, supporting local and small businesses and cheese shops who are committed to sustainability is a great way to make sure that your money is being used in the right way. The money you spend on cheese at a small business goes back into your local economy, and back to the cheese producers who are committed to improving sustainability practices for their products.
Learn more about Formaticum products on our FAQ page and reach out to hello@formaticum.com with any questions or comments.