Did you know that our beloved chewing-gum is made of plastic? We found some natural and biodegradable alternatives that are better for you and the planet to help you fight chewing-gum plastic pollution.
Can such a small thing create such a big problem? It sure can. We don’t talk about it enough, but chewing-gum is the second most polluting type of waste in the world, after cigarettes buds. Every year, chewing-gum represents 100.000 tonnes of plastic pollution. You read it right: plastic. You beloved minty treats are made of the big P – and that’s why chewing-gum so bad for the environment.
Chewing-gum plastic pollution is enormous, but it’s far from being the only problem created by its overconsumption. In the UK only, governments have to spend more than £60 million to clean the streets of chewing-gum waste. That same chewing-gum waste ends up in the drains and, consequently, in our waters – filling seas and oceans of microplastics that are often lethal of fish.
The fight against plastic has been quite successful during the last few years. Most people now use reusable bags to shop, and reusable coffee cups are more fashionable than ever. We pay attention to what we eat, and we avoid vegetable wrapped in plastic and takeaways that don’t use recyclable boxes. Smoking is far from being seen as cool, and we have identified a significant decrease in smoking in the last ten years. So why are we still chewing on plastic? The statistics are out there, but most people still don’t know they are putting in their mouth a form of plastic that is also used to make car tyres. Would you eat a car tyre? I don’t think so.
Just like envelops, wet wipes and tea-bags, chewing-gum is another example of hidden plastic that we unknowingly use in our everyday life. A lot of people love chewing-gum – it can help you concentrate, de-stress or simply make your breath smell nice, but we can’t turn a blind eye on the problem. There are plenty of small sustainable brands that create natural and biodegradable chewing-gum that is better for people and the planet.
We selected our favourite natural chewing-gum to chew all day, every day – guilt-free.
Bonsaï chewing-gum plastic pollution
True Gum chewing-gum plastic pollution
Chewsy Gum
Simply Gum
The Humble Co.
