Exploring the Timeline of Chewing Gum's Impact on Plastic Waste
Microplastics might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about your favorite chewing gum, but it turns out, many brands incorporate synthetic materials into their gum base, like polyethylene and polyvinyl acetate. While these substances are common in items like plastic straws and shampoo bottles, they're also found in our beloved chewing gum.
Consumption of plastic gum is quite substantial in the UK, with around four billion pieces consumed annually – that's the equivalent of four billion plastic straws. Every day, Brits chew and discard approximately 12 tons of gum, which is just as heavy as a bus. Shockingly, Keir Carnie, Nuud's co-founder, argued that a "drinking-straws worth of single-use plastic" can be found in each piece of regular chewing gum.
City to Sea, an environmental charity, has teamed up with Nuud to launch a new campaign urging the UK government to ban plastic chewing gum. The organization claims that the microplastics in gum are linked to some of humanity's worst diseases and that gum can be found stuck to pavements all around the UK. Ultimately, it ends up in landfills or makes it back into water systems, which is a concerning fact for our health and our environment.
With every chew, you're essentially ingesting tiny pieces of plastic, which has been connected to health issues like obesity, fertility issues, and cancer. City to Sea's chief executive, Jane Martin, warned that the average gum chewer is chewing on a big blob of plastic that breaks down into microplastics.
However, even though there are concerns about plastic gum and the environmental impact it has, founder of another plastic-free gum brand, Tom Raviv, believes an outright ban might not be feasible due to the lack of necessary infrastructure and materials.
Therefore, instead of advocating for a ban, Raviv has suggested implementing a plastic tax on chewing gum manufacturers that use petroleum-based plastics in their ingredients and scrapping the 20% VAT added to plant-based chewing gum in the UK.
The recycling industry's struggles to handle chewing gum waste, as well as the additional plastic packaging that comes with most gum, also contributes to the environmental impact of chewing gum. Despite its common disposition, most people are not aware of the consequences of chewing gum.
The campaign aims to raise awareness and encourage consumers to demand change by using the hashtag #ChewPlantsNotPlastic. So, next time you decide to grab a pack of gum, consider this information and choose a plastic-free alternative.
- Many chewing gum brands incorporate synthetic materials like polyethylene and polyvinyl acetate into their gum base, making each piece potentially contain a "drinking-straws worth" of single-use plastic according to Keir Carnie.
- City to Sea's chief executive, Jane Martin, stated that the average gum chewer is inadvertently consuming microplastics, which have been linked to health issues such as obesity, fertility problems, and cancer.
- Founder Tom Raviv advocates against an outright ban on plastic chewing gum due to the lack of necessary infrastructure and materials, suggesting instead a plastic tax on manufacturers and the removal of VAT on plant-based gum.
- The recycling industry struggles to manage chewing gum waste and the additional plastic packaging often accompanying gum, further contributing to its environmental impact, which is often overlooked by consumers.
