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Chewing gum is a tiny habit with a surprisingly large footprint. Globally, people chew more than 374 billion pieces of gum every year, often reaching for it during meals, stressful moments, or when they need a quick freshness boost.

But while the chewing lasts only minutes, the waste can linger for decades.

Most conventional gums sold in supermarkets and petrol stations are made from materials that behave much like plastic. Spat-out gum sticks to pavements, resists weathering, and remains in the environment for up to 50 years. It’s one of the most persistent forms of litter, and councils spend millions each year scraping it from streets, benches, and shoes.

Natural chewing gum tells a very different story. Made from tree sap, plant waxes, and naturally derived sweeteners, it offers the same chew without the environmental harm. For people who care about what goes into their bodies and what they leave behind, natural gum turns an everyday habit into an environmentally aligned choice.

This guide—produced with Edinco’s commitment to effective, responsible oral care—explores the real differences between natural and regular chewing gum: their ingredients, their impact on health, and what happens after you throw them away.

What Makes Chewing Gum "Natural"?

The defining difference between natural gum and regular gum lies in the gum base—the ingredient that gives gum its elastic texture.

What ingredients typically make up natural chewing gum?

Natural gum manufacturers use plant-derived gum bases rather than synthetic plastics. The primary ingredient is chicle, a natural latex harvested from the sapodilla tree. When combined with materials such as candelilla wax, tree resins, and plant sap, it produces the familiar chewy texture without relying on petroleum-based polymers.

Flavour and sweetness come from:

• Xylitol (a natural sugar alcohol known to reduce harmful oral bacteria)

• Stevia (a zero-calorie plant sweetener)

• Essential oils (peppermint, spearmint, cinnamon)

This combination is fully biodegradable, and brands such as Simply Gum, Chewsy, and Glee Gum use this method to create plastic-free gum available to UK and European consumers.

Why Is Chicle Considered a Sustainable Gum Base?

Chicle harvesting is a renewable, low-impact practice used for centuries.

• Sapodilla trees are tapped using small cuts in the bark to collect latex.

• The trees remain standing and can be tapped every 2–3 years for 25+ years.

• The bark naturally heals, preserving the surrounding rainforest.

• Chicle production supports local communities across Mexico and Central America.

• The process meets sustainable forestry principles supported by groups like WWF and FairWild.

Compared to the energy-intensive petrochemical processes used in synthetic gum bases, chicle is a slow, regenerative, climate-friendly alternative.

The following table summarises the key differences in composition between natural and regular chewing gum:

What’s Really Inside Regular Chewing Gum?

Chewing gum might seem like an innocent treat, but its core ingredients raise questions about what we’re actually putting in our mouths—and what ends up in the environment.

Why Is Regular Gum Often Called “Plastic Gum”?

Most conventional gum bases contain:

• Polyethylene — the same plastic used in bags and bottles

• Polyvinyl acetate — a material also used in adhesives

These polymers give gum its elastic chew and durability, but also make it behave like plastic waste once discarded. According to a 2019 Centre for International Environmental Law analysis, gum is among the hardest types of single-use plastic to clean up, fragmenting into microplastics rather than decomposing.

Are These Synthetic Ingredients Safe for Human Health?

Regulators such as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) permit these polymers in food contact applications and consider them non-toxic in small quantities.

However:

• They are not digestible.

• Research continues into whether chewing contributes to microplastic exposure.

• People with sensitivities may experience digestive discomfort from certain additives.

Natural gum avoids these concerns entirely by removing synthetic polymers from the equation.

Is Regular Chewing Gum Made of Plastic?

Yes. Most regular gums contain synthetic polymers similar to plastic, which are not biodegradable and remain in the environment indefinitely.

Is Chewing Gum Biodegradable, or Does It Just Stick Around Forever?

How Long Does Regular Chewing Gum Take to Decompose?

One of the most frustrating realities of conventional gum is its stubborn refusal to disappear. A single piece of regular chewing gum can remain intact on a pavement for five decades or more, resisting rain, sunlight, and microbial action. In the UK alone, gum litter costs local councils around £40 million each year in cleanup efforts, according to Keep Britain Tidy. It adheres to nearly every surface, making it one of the most persistent and costly forms of litter.

Is Natural Gum Zero-Waste and Compostable?

Yes. Natural gum:

• Breaks down in weeks, given moisture, oxygen, and microbes

• Does not leave microplastics behind

• Often comes in compostable wrappers, minimising total waste

This makes it a genuinely zero-waste alternative.

Can Natural Gum Actually Support Better Oral Health?

Chewing gum, whether natural or regular, has a well-established role in oral health because it stimulates saliva production, which naturally washes away food particles, neutralises acids, and helps repair early enamel damage. But natural gum often goes a step further.

The main sweetening agent found in natural gums comes from xylitol, which serves as a natural sugar alcohol that scientists have studied extensively to understand its effects on reducing harmful oral bacteria. The process of fermentation by Streptococcus mutans, which leads to tooth decay, does not occur when xylitol is present. According to scientific studies, regular gum chewing with xylitol sweeteners helps prevent dental cavities by stopping bacteria from sticking to surfaces and multiplying. 

The essential oils used for flavouring—such as peppermint or spearmint, also provide mild antimicrobial benefits, further supporting a healthier oral environment. The mechanism applies to all users of xylitol-based toothpastes because it uses bacterial inhibition to prevent dental problems.

How Does the Environmental Footprint of Gum Compare?

Chewing gum creates environmental problems which continue to affect the environment after people spit it out. The world produces about 100,000 tonnes of non-degradable gum waste annually, which creates visible litter that requires particular cleaning methods. The UK established the Gum Litter Taskforce as a dedicated solution to combat this issue, which creates more harm to urban areas than most other consumer products. 

Natural gum, with its plant-based base and often compostable packaging, avoids this outcome entirely. Proper composting methods result in organic matter decomposition, which produces no lasting contaminants that stay present in soil. The production of chicle—the traditional gum base, also supports a more sustainable model: selective harvesting preserves the rainforest ecosystem and provides a renewable income source for the communities that manage these trees.

Are There Any Trade-Offs When Switching to Natural Gum?

Natural gum does have a few limitations:

• Flavour fades faster than synthetic gum

• Texture becomes firmer over time

• Prices are higher due to labour-intensive harvesting and smaller-scale production

For many consumers, these are acceptable trade-offs in exchange for eliminating plastic waste and supporting better environmental practices.

How Can You Choose Chewing Gum That Aligns with Your Values?

The process of selecting an informed choice becomes easy when you understand the specific criteria which need evaluation. You need to select gums which specify chicle, tree sap, and plant resins as their base and xylitol as their sweetener. The best packaging solution for this product would be compostable or recyclable materials, which can also show certifications for plastic-free, vegan, and sustainable sourcing. 

The United Kingdom offers multiple trustworthy natural gum brands which provide various flavour options at different price levels, along with their dedication to environmental biodegradability standards.

Which Type of Chewing Gum Should You Choose?

When weighing health, environmental impact, and sustainability, natural chewing gum is the superior choice when all evidence is carefully reviewed. It provides:

• The same chewing experience

• Clinically supported oral health benefits

• Zero plastic polymers

• No long-term environmental harm
  

Regular gum may deliver longer-lasting flavour, but its environmental footprint is enormous—and unnecessary. Your choice ultimately comes down to what you value: a gum that disappears without a trace or one that lingers for decades.

Explore the natural oral care products at Edinco, including xylitol-based toothpastes.

How Does Edinco Fit Into a Thoughtful Oral Care Routine?

A sustainable approach to oral health isn’t limited to gum. Edinco supports this broader commitment with products such as recyclable charcoal toothbrush heads, available in separate models for Oral-B and Philips Sonicare, and naturally derived toothpastes packaged in recyclable aluminium tubes. Our Recycling Reward Scheme allows you to return used toothbrush heads of any brand, ensuring that even incremental changes contribute to a closed-loop system.

Through these products and a portion of sales directed to charities supporting healthcare and education, Edinco enables a practical, cohesive routine that maintains oral health while minimising environmental impact.

Begin building a more sustainable oral care routine at Edinco

FAQs

1. What is natural chewing gum?

Natural chewing gum is made using plant-based gum bases (such as chicle from sapodilla trees) instead of synthetic plastics. It typically avoids artificial sweeteners, colours, and preservatives, and often uses natural flavours and sweeteners like xylitol.

2. Is natural gum better for you?

Natural gum can be better for some people because it often:

• Contains fewer artificial additives

• Is sugar-free and sweetened with xylitol

• Is gentler on teeth and gums
  However, benefits depend on the ingredients used, not just whether the gum is labelled “natural.”

3. What is the healthiest type of chewing gum?

The healthiest chewing gums are:

• Sugar-free

• Sweetened with xylitol (shown to reduce cavity-causing bacteria)

• Free from artificial colours and aspartame
  Both natural and regular gums can be healthy if they meet these criteria.

4. Which type of chewing gum is best for teeth?

Dentists generally recommend sugar-free gum with xylitol, as it helps:

• Stimulate saliva

• Neutralise acids after meals

• Reduce plaque buildup
  Some natural gums meet these standards, while others focus more on sustainability than dental benefits.

5. Is natural gum better for the planet?

Yes. Natural gum is usually biodegradable, whereas regular gum contains plastic polymers that can take years to break down. Natural gum is less harmful to wildlife and contributes less to environmental pollution.

6. Is chewing gum good for your health overall?

Chewing gum can offer benefits such as:

• Improved oral health (if sugar-free)

• Better focus and alertness

• Reduced dry mouth
  Excessive chewing, however, may cause jaw discomfort or digestive issues for some people.