3Bears Packs with “Green PE”
The supplier of natural porridge and overnight oats mixes 3Bears relies on “Green PE”, a packaging solution based on renewable raw materials. In addition, the start-up is committed to the Canadian social enterprise Plastic Bank against packaging waste.
Caroline and Tim Nichols met in England, the “home” of porridge. Because they loved porridge, but found the supermarket products too loaded with sugar and additives, they mixed their own varieties using whole-grain oatmeal and fruit. These homegrown creations were very well received during visits to Caroline‘s Bavarian home, and the couple decided to market them. They founded 3Bears in 2015, and in 2017 presented their products on the TV show “Die Höhle der Löwen” (Lion’s Den). There, they inspired investors Judith Williams and Frank Thelen, who stand alongside 3Bears with their teams.
“Our 3Bears porridge mixes were designed to create as little packaging waste as possible from the start,” says co-founder and CEO Tim Nichols. “Sustainability and environmental consciousness are deeply embedded in our company‘s DNA.” That is why 3Bears began converting packaging on its porridge range to “Green P” in August 2020. The switch has since been completed.
Better carbon footprint
“Green PE” is a bio-based polyethylene, based on renewable raw materials such as sugar cane. Compared to traditional plastic packaging, “Green PE” has a better carbon footprint. The material is another step in the right direction for Nichols. “It‘s not the last word in wisdom, but it’s currently the most sustainable packaging solution for our standard varieties that we could find on the market,” the founder notes.
Since January 2020, 3Bears has also been a partner of Canadian social enterprise Plastic Bank. This company aims to reduce plastic waste in the world‘s oceans and also improve the living conditions of poor populations in third-world countries by allowing collected plastic to be exchanged for goods, money or even services. “Our goal is to achieve a negative carbon footprint in packaging through our ‘Green PE’ packaging and involvement with Plastic Bank, and also to help alleviate some poverty with the resources available to us remotely,” Nichols says.
