# Repurposed Cheese Brands are launching packaged goods made with upcycled cheese and ingredients. By [Colin Smith](https://www.trendhunter.com/Colin96), Senior Insights Analyst | Published Jun 22, 2023 | Category: [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/pro/category/lifestyle-trends) Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/repurposed-cheese ## Key Figures - Trend score: 3.9/10 - Evidence articles: 6 ## What is the Repurposed Cheese trend? **Repurposed Cheese:** CPG brands and food manufacturers are launching cheese-based products made with upcycled ingredients. These products have reduced carbon footprints and long shelf lives. Brands use upcycled ingredients acquired from manufacturing byproducts and excess storage to reduce cost and waste. ## The consumer insight behind the Repurposed Cheese trend While many consumers prioritize environmentally or socially-friendly products over alternatives, some consumers are unwilling to pay increased costs for these products. These consumers only opt for these products when the price and quality are comparable to the alternatives. This cost-conditional desire has led to brands finding ways to produce environmentally friendly foods while maintaining, or even reducing, production costs. Brands appeal to these customers by turning to upcycling. ## At a Glance - Evidence: 6 featured examples - Articles from: Feb 21, 2022 to Jan 19, 2024 - Published: Jun 22, 2023 - Patterns: [Cyclicality](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/cyclicality), [Reduction](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/reduction) - Megatrends: [Co-creation](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/co-creation), [Simplicity](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/simplicity), [Naturality](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/naturality) ## Audience - Gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Themes within the Repurposed Cheese trend ### Upcycling of Ingredients CPG brands and food manufacturers are repurposing ingredients, like excess storage acquired from manufacturing byproducts—reducing cost and waste in the process. ### Reducing Carbon Footprints by Food Manufacturers Companies are finding ways to reduce their carbon footprint by using upcycled ingredients in their products, creating environmentally-friendly products with reduced production costs. ### Vegan and Allergen-Free Options Companies are creating vegan and allergen-free pie crusts and cheese sticks in response to changing consumer preferences, while keeping in mind the environment and need for upcycling. ## What the Repurposed Cheese trend means for industry ### For Food and Beverage Manufacturing Food and beverage manufacturers can utilize waste reduction strategies and upcycled ingredients to create environmentally-friendly products that appeal to cost-conscious consumers. ### For Plant-Based and Vegan Foods Plant-based and vegan food companies can continue to innovate and create product offerings with elevated flavors, like truffle, to cater to changing consumer preferences and increase market share. ### For Gluten-Free and Allergen-Free Foods Food companies can appeal to the growing market of consumers seeking gluten-free and allergen-free options, while also incorporating waste reduction and upcycling strategies into their production processes. ## Workshop question How can your brand implement upcycling to reduce waste and production costs while still producing high-quality products that meet industry standards? ## Trend signals for Repurposed Cheese Trend score 3.9 out of 10, from popularity 54%, activity 44%, freshness 20%. - Popularity: 54% - Activity: 44% - Freshness: 20% ## Examples of the Repurposed Cheese trend 6 featured examples from Feb 21, 2022 to Jan 19, 2024. - [Upcycled Cheese Powders](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/upcycled-cheese-powder): Kerry's Upcycled Cheese Powder is Environmentally-Friendly and Flavorful (Category: Eco) Implication: The food manufacturing industry can explore opportunities to incorporate upcycled ingredients and implement sustainable practices to reduce waste and emissions. - [Carbon-Reducing Cheddar Cheeses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/carbon-neutral-cheddar): Ivy's Reserve is the First-of-Its-Kind Cheese (Category: Lifestyle) Implication: Dairy farms can adopt sustainable practices and innovate ways to reduce carbon emissions, waste, and improve animal welfare. - [Alternative Cultured Cheeses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/seeductive-foods): Seeductive Foods Uses Regenerative & Upcycled Ingredients (Category: Lifestyle) Implication: With the rising demand for dairy-free options, there is an opportunity for companies to create innovative, clean-label cheese alternatives using plant-based and superfood ingredie… - [AI-Powered Cheese Production](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cheese-yield-optimization): Ever.Ag Cheese Yield Optimization Optimizes Efficiency and More (Category: Tech) Implication: The Ever.Ag Cheese Yield Optimization disrupts the cheese manufacturing industry by streamlining processes and optimizing efficiency through AI and machine learning. - [Upcycled Brownie Pie Crusts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/brownie-pie-crust): Freedom Foods' Chocolate Brownie Pie Crust Repurposes Ingredients (Category: Eco) Implication: Food manufacturers can repurpose their by-products to create value-added products, like Freedom Foods did with their brownie by-products. - [Vegan White Cheddar Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/white-cheddar-cheese-snack): Babybel Releases Plant-Based White Cheddar in Its Dairy-Free Portfolio (Category: Lifestyle) Implication: The snack industry has the opportunity to introduce more plant-based and dairy-free options to cater to changing consumer preferences. ## Recent trend clusters - [Gentle Diagnostics](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/home-heart-screening) (Lifestyle) - [Targeted Macros](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/functional-protein-ingredients) (Lifestyle) - [Flavor Borrowing](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/soft-drink-flavor-mashups) (Lifestyle) - [Silent Triage](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/passive-health-wearables) (Lifestyle) ## Trending in Lifestyle - [Holiday-Inspired Potato Chips](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/holiday-inspired-potato-chips) - [Influencer-Curated Cafe Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kit-keenan) - [Mystery Packaging Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cow-not-laughing) - [Fashionable Frozen Yogurts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aritzias-aok-caf) All articles: [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle)