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According to David Jones, a researcher at the University of Portsmouth’s Faculty of Environment, popular chewing gum is a source of environmental pollution by plastic.
Johnson notes that most chewing gum manufacturers don’t really say what their product is made of. They limit themselves to by indicating in the composition chewing gum bases.
The researcher also emphasizes that there is no clear definition of a synthetic chewing gum base. In particular, the global chewing gum brand Wrigley Extra works with dentists around the world to promote this product as a means of improving oral health.
«Chewing gum base gives chewing gum its «chewy» flavor by binding all the ingredients together for a smooth, soft texture. We use synthetic materials for our gum base to provide a uniform and safe base that delivers a longer-lasting flavor, improved texture and reduced stickiness», — according to the Wrigley Oral Health program, which the researcher cites as an example.
However, chemical analysis reveals that the gum contains a synthetic chemical styrene-butadiene, which is also used in the production of car tires. In addition, the gum also contains polyethylene, which is used to make bags and plastic bottles, and polyvinyl acetate in addition to a certain amount of sweetener and flavoring.
Johnson points out that as of 2025, the US chewing gum industry is estimated at $48.6 billion. 75% of the market is controlled by three companies, the largest of which is Wrigley Extra, which has a 35% share of the US market. The scientist adds that there is little clear data on chewing gum production, but according to some estimates, about 1.74 trillion units are produced annually.
The researcher says that after analyzing several types of chewing gum, he found that the average weight of a single chewing plate is 1.4 grams. From this, Johnson concludes that the world produces 2.436 million tons of chewing gum annually. About 30% of this weight, or 730 thousand tons, is made up of synthetic base.
At the same time, a large number of consumers of this product simply spits it out wherever they go, so that used gum can be found under benches, stuck to school desks, and on sidewalks. Like most other types of plastic, chewing gum is hardly biodegradable and has been polluting the environment for decades.
Discarded chewing gum will harden over time, will crack and disintegrate into microplastic. Medium cost of cleaning from microplastics will be about $2 per square meter.
According to Johnson, every year, local authorities in the UK spend on cleaning the territory from chewing gum for about 7 million pounds. In this regard, special containers were installed in many public places. Billboards have appeared on the streets, especially in large cities, calling for responsible disposal of garbage, especially plastic.
The scientist warns that simply getting rid of used chewing gum by throwing it into special containers is not enough. Chewing gum manufacturers are making efforts to clean up the area, similar to plastic manufacturers, who also pay garbage collectors and volunteers who clean the beaches. This does not solve the key problems.
Johnson insists that only reducing pollution, recycling, and reusing it in completely different products can help.
«As with single-use plastic items, the problem of chewing gum pollution needs to be addressed in a comprehensive way: through education, waste reduction, alternatives, innovation, producer responsibility and legislation Transparent labeling on packaging would allow consumers to make informed choices. Stricter regulations could hold producers accountable — a tax on synthetic resin could help pay for cleanup. In turn, this will stimulate more investment in plant-based resins and other sustainable alternatives», — the scientist is convinced.
The article was published in the journal The Conversation
Source: Science Alert