April 10, 2025

Plastic-Free Gum: The Best Sustainable Chewing Gum for Fresh Breath

Did you know that most traditional chewing gums are basically flavored plastic? Yep, the same stuff used in water bottles and flip-flops is lurking in your favorite chew. Modern gum is mostly made of synthetic polymers like polyethylene and polyvinyl acetate—fancy words for, you guessed it, plastic.

The Dirty Truth About Conventional Gum

  • 100,000+ tonnes of plastic gum waste are generated every year.

  • 374 billion pieces of gum are chewed annually, and most are made from petroleum-derived, single-use plastic gum bases.

  • 80-90% of gum isn’t disposed of properly, meaning it’s either floating in the ocean or stuck to a sidewalk somewhere, waiting for someone (probably a very sad someone) to scrape it off.

  • It’s single-use plastic.

  • It’s the 2nd most littered item on Earth. (Only cigarette butts beat it.)

  • It never biodegrades. That piece of gum will outlive you.

  • It’s toxic for land and sea animals.

  • Cleaning gum off streets costs more than the gum itself. Seriously, cities spend millions just to un-stick our bad habits.

Now That You’re Properly Eeek’d Out…

Meet Refresh Gum and Milliways Gum—the future of chewing that won’t leave a plastic footprint.

A Cleaner Chew

  • Both Refresh Gum and Milliways Gum use chicle, a natural tree sap sustainably harvested from the sapodilla tree in Central America. This elastic sap has been tapped and used by indigenous communities for thousands of years—zero harm to trees, zero plastic in your mouth.

  • Refresh Gum brings fresh flavors like Garden Mint, Raspberry Lemonade, Bubblegum, and Cinnamon—all plant-based, plastic-free, and ready to freshen up your chew game.

  • Milliways Gum is 100% plant-powered, plastic-free, and planet-friendly—from the gum itself to its packaging. Their lineup includes Peppermint, Spearmint, and Watermelon, so you’re covered no matter your vibe.

The Future of Chewing

SO NOW THAT YOU KNOW, STOP CHEWING ON PLASTIC!

Or hey, if you really want that plastic chew experience, might as well just gnaw on a water bottle or a flip-flop—(kidding! Please don’t do that). But knowledge is power, and with two killer gum options literally at your fingertips, it’s time to make the switch.

Sure, plastic-free gum may not last as long as the artificial stuff, but let’s be real—do you really want a flavor that can stay for hours…hmmm, what is that made of? With these natural options, you get a fresher mouth, a solid jaw workout, and none of the synthetic junk. Plus, your eco-conscious self will be high-fiving you.

So, next time you're in the gum aisle, chew smarter. Your taste buds—and Mother Earth—will thank you.

Sources: The Times of India, Just One Ocean, Refresh and Milliways