Hello, my friends! I’m waiting for a big rainstorm to strike in SF; I was supposed to have a photo shoot, but it was better to postpone than to be caught in the rain!
That gives me the chance to write this week’s blog post! After reading news story after news story about how much plastic pollution is all around us, I have grown more heartsick at seeing how much plastic we continue to use every day. My attention has turned, naturally, to cheese. As more companies work to reduce and reuse plastics, I am convinced we will see more plastic-free options for cheese storage.
To that end, I am immensely excited to feature Stephanie Regni, French ex-pat and founder of Fillgood. Fillgood is a Bay Area zero waste store that includes a refill service to help people drastically cut waste. Stephanie has partnered with Biokleen and other home products makers to offer a refill service to her clients. Clients use their own containers or purchase Fillgood’s glass containers, order them to be filled with the product of their choosing (e.g., detergents, soaps, beauty supplies, all-purpose cleaner, etc.), and Stephanie delivers them. When one product is used up, clients swap out the empty container for a new filled one, and Stephanie washes and reuses the containers. Right now the service is limited to the Bay Area, but perhaps that will change one day!
I asked Stephanie how we could store cheese at home without using plastic. She offered several options!
A Glass Container
As in, a jar, or a glass food storage box. If you need to wrap your cheese in something before placing it in a box, you can wrap it in wax paper.
Get your own glass food containers (a.k.a. jars!).
A Stainless Steel Container
Store your cheese in a stainless steel container. Again, you can wrap the cheese in wax paper if you don’t want it exposed to too much air.
Get your own stainless steel containers.
Beeswax Wrap
Stephanie was a little hesitant about the beeswax wrap because it is not really waste-free; at some point, you will have to throw it away because it will break down. It isn’t plastic, though, and it uses beeswax, which is anti-microbial and breathable.
Get your own beeswax wraps.
Reducing Plastic At The Cheese Counter
Plastic reduction can begin at the cheese counter, says Stephanie. First off, purchasing bigger pieces of cheese can reduce plastic use, since there wouldn’t be as many small chunks of cheese to wrap. Buying a whole wheel of cheese, in some cases, could let you forego plastic altogether (anyone want to go in on a whole wheel of Parm together?). Additionally, you can bring your own glass or metal container to the cheese counter, and ask your cheesemonger to place your delicious dairy sustenance in that instead of in plastic wrap when she cuts your order.
Disposing Of The Plastic
What are we supposed to do with all that plastic wrapping? In San Francisco, we are now able to recycle plastic wrap and plastic bags, as long as they are all gathered together into one big plastic bag, and tied shut. When it comes to the plastic box-like containers, I wash the food off, and then toss the ensemble—lid on—into the recycling bin. Stephanie said that when the lids are tossed separately, they are more likely to get sorted and NOT recycled, so it is better to attach them. As for the paper-plastic wrapping that is very popular in the cheese world, Stephanie recommends separating the paper from the plastic, recycling the plastic, and then composting the paper.
It was kind of stunning how much waste came from just three pieces of cheese. Imagine that multiplied by the people in your neighborhood, or your town. It’s staggering to think about.
Thank you, Stephanie, for sharing your expertise with me! If you are interested in learning more about Fillgood’s refill service, or signing up, please visit her website fillgood.co.
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