Is Gum Made of Rubber? Find Out What Gum is Made of

What’s gum made of? Is gum made of rubber? Yes, it’s made of a rubbery material known as polyisobutylene.

But perhaps a question more important than “is gum made of rubber?” is what impact does gum have on our environment. Is gum biodegradable and eco-friendly? The answer may make you start chewing on something else.

Is gum biodegradable and eco friendly?

A majority of sources note that gum is also made with plastics. Generally, anything with plastic is not biodegradable.

According to the World Wildlife Fund, plastic takes up to 200 years to decompose. Answers vary on how long it takes for gum to decompose. At best, it may take five years, and at worst, it may take 500 to 1000 years.

Is gum bad for the environment?

Given that gum is made of plastic, one source noted that it can release harmful chemicals into our soil. It was difficult to find more sources to confirm this information, but it’s something to investigate further.

Additionally, gum has been said to harm animals that attempt to eat it. Different sources state that birds can choke on the gum or have their digestive systems clogged by it. An article on Lemelson-MIT also points out that fish can eat the gum, produce toxins, and eventually harm humans who eat the fish.

Is there sustainable gum?

Some companies are helping to solve the problem of gum pollution by creating sustainable alternatives. Here are a few options you can try out:

1. True Gum

True Gum uses sap harvested from gum trees to make their chewing gum. Their product is produced in Denmark by a small artisan factory. Their products are also certified palm-oil free by POFCAP.

2. Glee Gum

Glee gum is made without artificial flavorings, sweeteners, preservatives, and colorings. It’s also one of the only non-GMO gums being produced today. The company states that their use of chicle to make their gum helps sustain the rainforest.

3. Chewsy Gum

Chewsy describes their gum as the only 100% sugar-free and natural chewing gum in the UK made from 5 natural ingredients found in trees. Some of the flavors they have include cinnamon, spearmint, lemon, and peppermint.

4. Simply Gum

Simply Gum is vegan, kosher, natural, and Non-GMO certified. The founder, Caron, started the company after finding out that regular gum is made with plastic. She’s proud to note that the company is female and AAPI founded.

5. Nuud Gum

Nuud Gum is not only plastic-free but also sugar-free too. The company offers a free trial of their product to see if you like it. The sample flavors they offer include peppermint, menthol, and spearmint. They mail their gum in recycled cardboard packaging.

6. Chicza Organic Mayan Rainforest Gum

Chicza’s gum is certified organic. The gum is made with evaporated cane juice, chicle, organic glucose, organic flavor, and organic agave syrup. Some of their flavors include mixed berry and cinnamon.