“To do good, you actually have to do something.”
Yvon Chouinard, Founder of Patagonia & Co-Founder of 1% for the Planet
for the goodness of the earth
Deer Creek Cheese has been a proud member of 1% for the Planet since 2018. Through our partnership, we donate 1% of our annual sales to humanitarian and environmental nonprofits.
1% for the Planet is a global network of almost 13,000 individuals, organizations, and companies across the globe striving to make a difference to protect the future of our planet. Since its creation almost 25 years ago, 1% for the Planet members have come together to contribute hundreds of millions in support of environmental and humanitarian nonprofits.
We are only able to do this because of you. Every piece of Deer Creek Cheese you buy helps to foster care for the Earth and the people and animals who share this home.
partners with a purpose
Every time you bring home a piece of Deer Creek Cheese, you’re helping to support initiatives that improve both our communities and the Earth. These are some of the incredible organizations doing the work to make that happen.
our 1% for the Planet nonprofit partners
Clean Wisconsin
Since 1970, Clean Wisconsin has been your voice for the environment, working to preserve and protect our clean air, clean water, and natural heritage.
Bookworm Gardens
Bookworm Gardens a botanic garden based on children's literature located in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, with a mission to inspire the love of books and nature in the young and young at heart.
Sheboygan County Food Bank
Sheboygan County Food Bank’s mission is to lead Sheboygan County's efforts to increase the food security of its residents by distributing healthy emergency food and fostering innovative partnerships.
Nourish Farms
Nourish empowers the community to make wholesome food choices through education and hands-on experiences that demonstrate how to grow, source, cook and enjoy good food.
Urban Ecology Center
UEC connects people in cities to nature and each other. Their vision is to inspire generations to build environmental curiosity, understanding, and respect.
International Crane Foundation
The International Crane Foundation works worldwide to conserve cranes and the ecosystems, watersheds and flyways on which they depend.
Ice Age Trail Alliance
The Mission of the Alliance is to conserve, create, maintain, and promote the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.
River Alliance of Wisconsin
River Alliance of WI’s mission is to empower people to protect and restore water, with a vision of thriving community, economy, and habitat.
Beyond our 1% for the Planet giving, we believe in supporting food banks, local nonprofits, and other environmental causes outside of their network.
Feeding America
Feeding America works to get nourishing food – from farmers, manufacturers, and retailers – to people in need. At the same time, they also seek to help our neighbors build a path to a brighter, food-secure future.
St. Joseph Food Program, Inc.
Fighting Hunger. Sustaining Hope. St. Joseph Food Program focuses on supplementing nutritional needs, free of charge, for the economically distressed within our local communities.
starting at the source
Many of our initiatives revolve around our beautiful state of Wisconsin. Without our fertile soils, clear waters, magnificent flora and fauna, and hardworking farmers, Deer Creek Cheese would not be possible.
Healthy land, a special terroir, and clean waters contribute directly to the quality and consistency of our cheese. We hold those in the highest regard and refuse to compromise. We pay a premium for high quality milk from small family diary farms so the farmers can earn a decent wage to care for their families, livestock, and land. We also support a price floor for milk to ensure that farmers are not subject to excessive downward market fluctuations. In addition:
We choose to do business with Wisconsin-based community banks and local suppliers, logistic companies, and industry partners.
We utilize a finished goods warehousing and distribution center that uses solar panels to generate renewable energy.
We look for ways to reduce the number of shipping and warehouse touches our cheeses make on their way to the consumer.
We limit auto and air travel when possible.
We source 100% of our monthly energy usage from Second Nature, a program that pools energy usage needs together to buy more earth-friendly, renewable energy produced by wind and solar.
We use Forest Stewardship Council certified and sustainable papers, card stock and labels where we can.
