MONTASIO PDO
SUSTAINABILITY IS IN OUR NATURE

Montasio PDO: sustainability shaped by tradition, quality and the future

For the Consortium for the Protection of Montasio PDO Cheese, sustainability represents the essential bridge between tradition and innovation. We adopt a sustainable growth model that meets today’s needs while preserving resources for future generations, based on three interconnected pillars: environmental, economic and social.

We align with the principles of sustainable development and European strategies such as the Green Deal and “From Farm to Fork”. We actively coordinate the supply chain to safeguard the quality of Montasio PDO (Protected Designation of Origin), enhance transparency, and support the local economy while celebrating its traditional heritage.

Our contribution to the 2030 Agenda

The Consortium for the Protection of Montasio PDO
Cheese carries out activities that closely reflect the United Nations 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Safeguarding Montasio PDO
is more than a matter of commerce: it supports the development of economic models that positively impact people and the environment. Our actions are inspired by the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, though they do not constitute formal certification.

The Consortium’s core activities contribute simultaneously to multiple interconnected goals:

SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): we ensure product quality and compliance through the monitoring activities carried out by the Consortium, in collaboration with authorized control bodies;
SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 9 (Innovation): continuous technical support empowers supply chain operators;
SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land): initiatives in food education and environmental research foster sustainable innovation across the supply chain;
SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): the Consortium acts as a strategic hub, building partnerships that create shared value for producers, territory, and market stakeholders.

A short and sustainable supply chain

The Consortium for the Protection of Montasio PDO
Cheese (Protected Designation of Origin) actively manages a network of approximately 700 businesses (livestock farms, dairies and aging facilities) across Friuli Venezia Giulia and Eastern Veneto, with the goal of maintaining high production standards and fostering a positive impact on the local economy.

Through strict quality controls and targeted promotional initiatives, the Consortium supports every stage of the supply chain by:

protecting and optimizing the quality and authenticity of Montasio;

promoting the environmental sustainability of production practices;

ensuring the well-being of communities and end consumers.

This approach strengthens the local socio-economic fabric of the region, preserve native cheesemaking traditions, and increase the resilience and competitiveness of the entire supply chain over the medium and long term.

Guaranteed quality and commitment to the environment

The quality of Montasio PDO
cheese comes from a balance between production rigor and respect for the environment.
The Consortium for the Protection of Montasio PDO
Cheese (Protected Designation of Origin) guarantees high food safety standards through constant monitoring and innovative technologies, including periodic analyses conducted by Consortium technicians on members’ production, with compliance rates exceeding 99% (internal Consortium data 2024).

Montasio PDO comes from a supply chain that respects the environment and enhances the territory

Choosing Montasio PDO
means supporting a short, ethical and sustainable supply chain that respects the land, protects the environment and values people’s work. Our environmental commitment follows a dual strategy: responsible management of direct impacts and product innovation to improve supply chain circularity.

Food sustainability and reducing waste

In 2024, the Consortium launched a major initiative to promote conscious and sustainable eating and to combat food waste. The goal is to highlight the nutritional properties of Montasio PDO
as a beficial food and provide consumers with practical tools to reduce food waste. The project brings together scientific research, nutrition education and communication, in collaboration with the University of Udine, nutritionists and chefs.
Our initiatives take shape across several key areas:

Practical anti-waste tools

operational guides, tailored diets, and “anti-waste” recipe books to help integrate Montasio and reduce food waste.

Education and training

workshops, tutorials, and podcasts for schools promoting food preservation and awareness of its value.

Digital and multilingual communication

articles, podcasts, and videos in Italian, English, and German to reach an international audience.

Energy efficiency and direct impacts

Energy efficiency: implementation of measures such as LED lighting upgrades, modernization of climate control systems and improved thermal insulation.
Renewable energy: a significant share of the electricity used at headquarters (between 30% and 50%) comes from renewable sources.
Eco-sustainable purchasing: for auxiliary services, we prioritize products bearing eco-labels or sustainability certifications.

Packaging innovation and circularity

Our innovation initiatives include exploring packaging solutions with a lower environmental impact.

Mono-material packaging: we are experimenting with mono-material designs, which are simpler to recycle than conventional multi-layer packaging, while maintaining Montasio PDO’s quality and shelf-life.shelf-life del Montasio DOP.

Realizzato con il contributo
MASAF D.M. 0618175 del 22/11/2024

MONTASIO PDO SUSTAINABILITY IS IN OUR NATURE