Most consumers are unaware that mainstream gums are manufactured from butadiene-based synthetic rubber as their base. This ingredient is non-biodegradable, meaning it won’t degrade naturally over time. When discarded irresponsibly, chewing gum contributes to environmental pollution and poses a significant challenge to waste management.

Statistics suggest over 374 billion pieces of chewing gum are sold worldwide each year, amounting to 100,000 tonnes of plastic pollution. 

Eco-friendly gums are typically made from natural ingredients like chicle, a tree sap harvested from the Sapodilla tree. This makes them biodegradable, reducing their environmental impact when discarded. Environmentally-friendly gums are often devoid of artificial sweeteners, preservatives, and GMOs, thereby offering a healthier alternative to the chemicals-laden traditional gums.

 

Simply Gum

Simply Gum is anchored on the use of six primary natural ingredients, a stark contrast to the 80-100 ingredients often found in conventional gums. At the core of their gum is ‘chicle,’ a natural sap harvested from the Sapodilla tree. Chicle is biodegradable and gives the gum its distinctive chewy texture, providing a natural alternative to the synthetic rubbers used in standard chewing gum.

Complimenting the chicle base is organic raw cane sugar, natural flavors, organic vegetable glycerin, organic rice flour, and organic soy lecithin. These components are non-GMO, vegan, and naturally biodegradable. Their use reflects the company’s dedication to providing a product that is to both human health and the environment.

This brand firmly advocates for product transparency and is uncompromising in its approach to avoiding artificial flavors, artificial preservatives, and plastic — common components in commercially available gum.

The company sources its ingredients directly from farmers. This practice promotes fair trade, supports small-scale farmers, and ensures the quality of the ingredients used in the gum.

It uses a recyclable cardboard box to hold gum pieces, which are individually wrapped in recyclable papers. This approach helps reduce plastic waste that could otherwise accumulate in landfills.

The company offers an array of unique and enticing flavors ranging from the classic mint to the unconventional fennel licorice, ensuring there’s something for every palate.

 

Chewsy

The core ingredient of Chewsy gum is xylitol, a naturally occurring sweetener derived from birch trees. It promotes oral health by reducing the acidity in your mouth and preventing tooth decay, setting it apart from gums that use synthetic, often harmful, sweeteners.

Chewsy gums contain gum base from trees, natural flavor, glycerol, and sunflower lecithin. This brand ensures each ingredient is 100% natural and plant-based, thereby creating a product that is vegan-friendly and gluten-free.

It is strongly committed to abstaining from artificial sweeteners, synthetic materials, or any other preservatives, a stand that has earned it considerable recognition within the spectrum of health-conscious consumers seeking cleaner food options.

Each pack of Chewsy gum is wrapped in material that is compostable. This means that everything from the gum itself to its wrapping contributes positively towards reducing landfill waste, further attesting to the brand’s commitment to sustainability.

Chewsy offers a range to cater to a variety of preferences. From refreshing peppermint to tangy lemon, the brand marries taste with natural components, ensuring that flavor does not compromise the brand’s ethos.

 

Mastika

Mastic has been used since ancient times for its therapeutic properties. It offers antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. Research indicates that chewing mastic gum can improve oral health, including reducing plaque and curing gum infections, signifying its role as a natural and unique oral healthcare product.

Extracted from hardwood trees like birch, xylitol helps to neutralize plaque acidity in the mouth and thus reduces cavity and tooth decay risk.

Mastika presents an all-natural, aspartame-free, and sugar-free product. The gum’s formula is simple and clean, comprising mastic, xylitol, and gum base, alongside natural flavors and gum arabic, a natural gum made of hardened sap.

The brand uses tin boxes that are recyclable and suitable for reuse. This focus on sustainable packaging aligns with Mastika’s overall mission to promote products that are not only good for consumer health but also for the planet.

 

Glee Gum

Glee Gum’s blend is predicated on using only natural ingredients. Differentiating itself significantly from the conventional gum brands, Glee Gum uses a base of sustainably harvested rainforest chicle. This natural rubber bespeaks the brand’s commitment to the environment, standing as a stark contrast to the synthetic bases found in most commercial chewing gums.

It uses pure cane sugar and brown rice syrup to sweeten its gum, shunning the use of artificial sweeteners that can often impact health negatively. It doesn’t incorporate artificial flavors or colors, instead, it turns to natural alternatives such as beetroot juice and beta carotene.

Glee Gum’s attention to ingredient detail has led to a product that is vegetarian-friendly and gluten-free, appealing to a wide range of dietary preferences and reassuring those with food sensitivities or allergies.

Instead of non-biodegradable wrappings, Glee Gum opts for recyclable and biodegradable cardboard boxes. This cutting down on plastic waste resonates with consumers who care about the health of the environment.

The brand serves both traditional options like peppermint and cinnamon, alongside less common flavors such as tangerine and bubblegum.

 

Chicza Organic Rainforest Gum

Chicle is a natural latex obtained from the bark of the sapodilla tree, a species native to the Mexican rainforests. This choice of raw material departs significantly from the synthetic bases of most commercial gums, rendering Chicza gum completely biodegradable and environmentally friendly.

The gum’s production contributes to preserving the Mayan rainforest and provides a renewable source of income for local communities, who harvest the chicle in a manner that ensures the tree’s healthy lifecycle.

Chicza Gum is free from artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, and preservatives. The gum is sweetened with organic evaporated cane juice and agave syrup and colored with natural dyes from fruits and vegetables. This purity of ingredients situates Chicza gum vegan and gluten-free option.

With a variety of flavors to choose from, including mint, cinnamon, and mixed berries, Chicza presents a delightful taste profile while keeping up with its commitment to natural, organic ingredients.