“Cheese! You either love it or hate it. And almost all of us are guilty of taking the packet out of the fridge, peeling back the corner, and ripping off a slice for our crackers. It might be impossible to stop doing this completely, but there is always an alternative to buying lots of packets filled with plastic.”
We all know the dangers of plastic in our oceans. Plastic has become a huge problem in recent years, and it’s time for us to find sustainable alternatives for things like cheese packaging. Plastic Free Cheese is an organization that helps people find creative ways to package cheese without using any plastics at all! In this blog post, we will explore 23 different sustainable plastic free cheese options for packaging your favorite dairy products.
Table of Contents
1. Goats Cheese
Goats cheese is a great, sustainable alternative to traditional cheese. Not only does it taste great, but it also comes in a variety of different flavors, meaning you can find one that suits your taste. Moreover, goat’s cheese is plastic-free, so you don’t have to worry about any packaging.
2. Feta Cheese
If you’re looking for a plastic free cheese that’s both tasty and sustainable, then feta is the perfect option. It’s made from sheep or goat’s milk and has a salty, tangy flavor that goes well with many different foods. Plus, there’s no need for any packaging, so it’s an environmentally-friendly choice.
3. Brie Cheese
Brie cheese is a soft, creamy cheese with an edible white rind on the outside and a layer of chalk in the middle. It has a mild, nutty flavor that makes it perfect for adding to sandwiches or burgers. Unfortunately, brie cheese comes in cardboard boxes, so some waste is involved. However, you could always recycle the cardboard or use it to store other food items.
4. Camembert Cheese
Like brie cheese, camembert is a soft, creamy cheese with a slightly sour taste. It’s made from cow milk and has a crumbly texture, perfect for spreading on crackers or bread. Unfortunately, camembert cheese also comes in a cardboard box, so some waste is involved. However, you could always recycle the cardboard or use it to store other food items.
5. Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese is a type of cheese made from curdled milk and is high in protein and calcium. It can be eaten alone, added to salads and sandwiches, or melted on toast. Cottage cheese comes in a plastic tub, but you can recycle it after use or keep it for storing other items.
6. Cream Cheese
Cream cheese is a soft, spreadable cheese made from cow milk. It has a high-fat content and is usually flavored with herbs, spices, or fruits such as orange peel. What’s great about cream cheese is that it comes in cardboard packaging, so there is no plastic waste involved.
7. Edam Cheese
Edam cheese is a type of semi-hard cheese made from cow milk. It has a mild, slightly nutty flavor and a smooth texture that makes it perfect for snacking on or adding to recipes. Edam cheese comes in plastic wrap, but you can recycle it after use or keep it for storing other items.
8. Gouda Cheese
Gouda cheese is a hard, yellow cheese made from cow milk. It has a slightly sweet, nutty taste and a firm texture that makes it great for eating on its own or in sandwiches. Unfortunately, gouda cheese also comes in plastic packaging, but you can recycle the packaging after use.
9. Mozzarella Cheese
Mozzarella cheese is a soft, white cheese made from cow milk. It has a mild flavor and a creamy texture that’s perfect for eating on its own or in sandwiches. Unfortunately, mozzarella cheese comes in plastic packaging, but you can recycle the packaging after use.
10. Ricotta Cheese
Ricotta cheese is a soft, creamy cheese made from the whey of cow milk. It has a mild flavor and a slightly grainy texture that makes it perfect for spreading toast or mixing recipes. Ricotta cheese comes in a plastic tub, but you can recycle it after use or keep it for storing other items.
11. Swiss Cheese
Swiss cheese is a type of semi-hard cheese made from cow milk. It has a mild flavor and an open texture that makes it great for adding to sandwiches, burgers, and wraps. Unfortunately, Swiss cheese comes in plastic packaging, but you can recycle the packaging after use.
12. Parmesan Cheese
Parmesan cheese is a hard, granular cheese made from cow milk. It has a strong, salty flavor and an extremely crunchy texture that makes it great for sprinkling on pasta or pizza. Unfortunately, Parmesan cheese comes in plastic packaging, but you can recycle the packaging after use.
13. Blue Cheese
Blue cheese is a type of cheese that’s made from cow milk. It has a strong, pungent flavor and a crumbly texture that makes it perfect for eating on its own or in salads. Unfortunately, blue cheese comes in a plastic container, but you can recycle the container after use.
14. Feta Cheese
Feta cheese is a soft, crumbly cheese made from goat milk or sheep milk. It has a salty, tangy flavor and a texture that ranges from creamy to crumbly. Feta cheese comes in plastic packaging, but you can recycle the packaging after use.
15. Gorgonzola Cheese
Gorgonzola cheese is a type of blue cheese made from cow milk. It has a strong, pungent flavor and a crumbly texture that makes it perfect for eating on its own or in salads. Unfortunately, Gorgonzola cheese comes in plastic packaging, but you can recycle the packaging after use.
16. Cheddar Cheese
Cheddar cheese is a hard, orange cheese made from cow milk. It has a sharp, tangy flavor and a granular texture that makes it perfect for grating on top of dishes or adding to recipes. Unfortunately, cheddar cheese comes in plastic packaging, but you can recycle the packaging after use.
17. Cream Cheese
Cream cheese is a soft, spreadable cheese normally flavored with herbs, spices, or fruits such as orange peel. What’s great about cream cheese is that it comes in cardboard packaging, so there is no plastic waste involved. Unfortunately, cream cheese does contain plastic, so you’ll have to recycle it after use.
18. Halloumi Cheese
Halloumi cheese is a type of semi-hard, unripened cheese that’s made from sheep and goat milk. What’s great about halloumi cheese is that it doesn’t need any refrigeration, so it doesn’t require plastic packaging. Unfortunately, halloumi cheese does contain plastic, so you’ll have to recycle it after use.
19. Muenster Cheese
Muenster cheese is a soft, mild cheese made from cow milk. It has a sweet and nutty flavor and a smooth texture that makes it great for adding sandwiches, burgers, and wraps. Unfortunately, muenster cheese comes in plastic packaging, but you can recycle the packaging after use.
20. Mascarpone Cheese
Mascarpone cheese is a soft, creamy cheese made from cow milk. It has a sweet flavor and a smooth texture, perfect for spreading on toast or mixing into recipes. Mascarpone cheese comes in plastic tubs, but you can recycle the packaging after use.
21. Provolone Cheese
Provolone cheese is a firm, mild-tasting cheese made from cow milk. It has a nutty flavor and a smooth, creamy texture that makes it great for adding to sandwiches or grilling until melted. Unfortunately, provolone cheese comes in plastic packaging, but you can recycle the packaging after use.
22. Ricotta Cheese
Ricotta cheese is a soft, creamy cheese made from cow milk. It has a sweet and nutty flavor and a smooth texture that makes it perfect for spreading toast or mixing recipes. Ricotta cheese comes in plastic tubs, but you can recycle the packaging after use.
23. Roquefort Cheese
Roquefort cheese is a blue cheese that’s made from cow milk. It has a strong, pungent flavor and a crumbly texture that makes it perfect for eating on its own or in salads. Unfortunately, Roquefort cheese comes in plastic packaging, but you can recycle the packaging after use.
FAQ’s
1. Q: Is it possible to buy sustainable, plastic-free cheese?
A: Yes, there are several sustainable, plastic-free cheese options available. However, not all of them are widely available, so you may have to do some research to find them.
2. Q: What are some of the best sustainable, plastic-free cheese options?
A: Some of the best options include the following:
– Halloumi cheese (doesn’t need to be refrigerated and doesn’t contain any plastic)
– Muenster cheese (comes in cardboard packaging, so there is no plastic waste involved)
– Mascarpone cheese (also comes in cardboard packaging)
3. Q: How can I recycle plastic packaging?
A: You won’t recycle the cheese itself, but you can reuse the plastic packaging. Here are some ideas on how they could be reused – Plastic containers can be turned into small garden planters – Plastic tubs that hold yogurt or ricotta cheese can be used to store crayons, markers, or colored pencils – Plastic containers that hold cream cheese can be used to store gum, hair ties or hairpins
4. Q: How can I avoid buying plastic-wrapped cheese?
A: This one’s easy! You have to make your cheese at home using sustainable ingredients. Most recipes require only four ingredients – organic milk, sea salt, an acid (such as apple cider vinegar or lemon juice), and cheese culture. This way, you’ll avoid any plastic waste!
5. Q: Is cheese healthy?
A: Yes, cheese is very healthy. It contains protein, vitamin B12, and riboflavin essential for good health. Cheese is also low in carbs but high in fat, so it’s perfect for people on a keto diet or following the paleo diet.
6. Q: Is cheese vegan?
A: No, cheese is not vegan because it contains animal proteins (casein and whey). However, there are a growing number of vegan cheese options available. If you’re on a vegan diet, just make sure to find a sustainable vegan cheese option.
Conclusion
This blog post has been a cheese-lover’s dream come true. From vegan ricotta to cultured nut cheeses, we have compiled the best options for your next meal or snack from around the world. If you want to avoid plastic in your diet and save money on groceries, this list is perfect for you! In addition to being delicious and healthy alternatives that will not break the bank, these products help reduce our carbon footprint by avoiding unnecessary plastics. Get ready to indulge guilt-free with 23 sustainable plastic-free cheese alternatives! Which ones did you try? What flavors do they offer? Let us know in the comments below!
