Bears Ice Cream

Bears Ice Cream Imaginarium is officially Circular Kitchens 3-Star Certified, recognising a business that has been deeply committed to circular and sustainable values from the very start

Plastic-Free from the Start

One of Bears’ defining qualities is that they have been plastic-free since day one. Even before joining Circular Kitchens, they avoided all customer-facing single-use plastics, meaning they were already fully aligned with the 1-Star pledge to replace customer facing single-use plastics with sustainable alternatives.

Local, Seasonal & Thoughtfully Sourced

Bears Ice Cream has always prioritised local and seasonal fruit, sourcing as close to home as possible and working with Kent producers wherever available. Their menus naturally follow the seasons, celebrating what is fresh and abundant locally.

Since joining Circular Kitchens, the team has gone further by strengthening how they track both the region of origin and the ecological status of their ingredients, meeting a key 2-Star pledge and deepening their understanding of their supply chain.

Committed to Continuous Improvement

As a 3-Star Circular Kitchens business, Bears is now actively committed to increasing the share of organic fruit in their sourcing over time, continuing to prioritise local and seasonal suppliers and joining a local community compost scheme, supported by Circular Kitchens

This reflects exactly what 3-Star certification stands for: leadership, learning, and continuous improvement.

A Leader in the Circular Kitchens Community

Bears Ice Cream Imaginarium is a brilliant example of how independent food businesses can help build local, ecological, and zero-waste food systems, and without compromising on creativity, joy, or commercial success. Their journey shows that starting with strong values makes the transition easier, deeper, and more authentic.

Circular Kitchens Statement

“Bears Ice Cream embodies what Circular Kitchens is about: plastic-free by design, rooted in local and seasonal sourcing, and committed to continuously improving the ecological impact of their ingredients. Their 3-Star certification is thoroughly deserved.”

Congratulations to Phil and the Bears team on achieving Circular Kitchens ★★★ 3-Star Certification — and for setting the standard for what sustainable ice cream can look like in Whitstable and beyond.