There's Plastic In My Chewing Gum?

Worldwide, we roughly chew 560,000 tons of gum every year, equating to 374 billion pieces. But did you know your gum may contain plastic?

Is Chewing Gum Made of Plastic?

The short answer is yes, while gum has been with us since the Stone Age, this age-old classic has changed since its origins. BBC Science Focus says that gum formulas use a rubbery material called polyisobutylene, the same material used in the manufacturing of inner tubes. Polyisobutylene is mixed with plasticisers and materials — all food grade — to make the gum mixture chewable. Lastly, BBC's Science Focus also wrote that chewing gum is plastic doped with flavours and colourings, which does not sound so pleasant when worded that way.

“Fresh breath on the go shouldn’t come at the cost of polluting our bloodstreams or the planet. Plastic straws are so last year, yet people are chomping on the same amount of plastic every time they chew big brand gum. It’s shocking and disgusting!”

Nuud Gum

Is Chewing Gum Harmful for the Environment?

Nuud gum says plastic is hidden under the term gum base within the ingredients list. Nuud also says gum brands don’t have to disclose that their gum base is made from plastic. This could explain why a survey of Iceland customers in the UK found 85% were unaware that chewing gum typically contains plastic. A further two-thirds of people who chew gum opt for products without synthetic ingredients.

Iceland Founder and Executive Chairman, Sir Malcolm Walker said,

“I absolutely detest the mess that discarded plastic chewing gum creates on our streets, and the fortune that is wasted by councils trying to clear it up. For decades, regular gum makers have hidden their synthetic ingredients behind the catch-all term of ‘gum base’ which is consistently used as an ingredient on the pack.”

Sir Malcolm Walker, Iceland Founder and Executive Chairman

On Nuud gums blog post, they listed some of the plastics that can be found in regular gum; of which one is Polyethylene. Polyethylene is used to manufacture plastic bags and is also one of the main culprits behind the 21 million tonnes of microplastics thought to be in the Atlantic Ocean. 

However, plastic is not the only problem, Just One Ocean explained that while some people may dispose of gum in a scrap bit of paper, others dispose of it on the pavements. Disregarding of gum on the streets causes staining and costs million of pounds every year. Keep Britain Tidy says that 87% of sites surveyed are blighted by staining.

In the UK, Nuud gum estimates we sink our teeth into 5 billion pieces of chewing gum every year.

Why You Should Switch to Plastic-free Chewing Gums

One way to create a demand for plastic free chewing gum is to vote with our money, as this paves the way for change. Fortunately, companies are emerging with improved formulas which are plastic free; such examples include Milliways and Nuud Gum. Nuud Gum locates where your local stockist it, however both brands sell their product online.

Despite being plastic free, both Milliways and Nuud Gum recommend that you do not swallow chewing gum, even if it can be composted, according to their frequently asked questions (FAQ).