Food & Drink : Food : GUM
GUM

Flapping Your Gum

08.12.2009

Submitted by tmeronek on Tue, 08/11/2009 - 11:00pm.
Gum
The Bite:
Wanna gab about gum? We'll avoid the chitchat and get to the point: Tossing a gum wrapper isn't gonna end the world, but it's good to have a reminder that even the littlest things have an impact; hence, some tips to a less wasteful chewing experience. Here's some real talk.
The Benefits: 
  • Payoffs to yak about. Americans chew over 300 billion sticks a year. Given enough time (and Biters) even tiny changes like buying gum in recyclable paper wrappers can help the planet in a major way.
  • Not wasting words...or resources. Skip gum packaged excessively in plastic (why does a Chiclets-style piece of gum need to be in a punch-out, medicine-foil wrapper, anyway?) and sticks wrapped in foil paper.
Personally Speaking: 
To the people who spit out their gum on the sidewalk, leaving those highly attractive black spots on the concrete: We will find you. And we will confiscate all your gum.
Wanna Try: 
  • Opt for bulk gum (even gumballs by the gallon in your own machine) or gum packaged in little paper boxes like Orbit or Stride, which give you more bang for your buck with a little less baggage.
  • Avoid gum and mints in tins unless you reuse the cans. (They're great for organizing spare buttons and other small items.)
  • Recycle paper wrappers when you can.

Cocktail Fact

Singapore banned the import and sale of chewing gum in 1994; in 2004 the law was revised to allow only gum "of therapeutic value."

Bang For The Bite

If 10,000 pack-a-week Biters buy gum in recyclable packaging, in a year we'll keep the weight of 52 Smart Cars out of landfills.

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Cblodg  on August 12, 2009 at 02:42 AM 1
It's only currently available in the UK (at Whole Foods, Wahaca, Waitrose and a few other place) but check out Chicaza gum - the first organic, certified biodegradable chewing gum http://chicza.com/. It has a bit of a different texture but it's actually pretty good.
Axel  on August 12, 2009 at 03:20 AM 2
Candid question: what about the gum itself? does it biodegrade? If not, how many tons end up in landfills every year? and are there biodegradable alternatives? If someone has an answer to that, please post it, I'd really like to know.
frankie  on August 12, 2009 at 03:25 AM 3
How about all the gum that ends up on our earth! That is the most disgusting thing i have ever seen. I am FOR gum being disposed of into the trash!
jean  on August 12, 2009 at 03:26 AM 4
-this comment is in regard to negligent companies who make 'earth unfriendly' products,and how can we 'pressure' them to change-ie...disposable razors(i remember when they first came out) and thinking-it's ok to just throw away? and this one really gets to me-the plastic handles w/ dental floss-i had a great idea-why not replace the plastic w/ bamboo? I take a walk every day and pass by one of these laying on the ground, and it's pathetic to see it, besides being gross-one day perhaps i'll pick it up(w/ gloves!) and recycle. The conscious consumer who is trying to go 'green' has to do all the work-why can't these companies who r making this sh-t have to do their part. makes me crazy!
Natalie Reid  on August 12, 2009 at 04:19 AM 5
There was no mention of how 99.9% of the gum consumers have to choose from made from petroleum. Nor was there any mention of Glee Gum, which is made from old fashion chicory - the way gum used to be made. Overall, this tip was disappointing.
haverwench  on August 12, 2009 at 04:46 AM 6
Frankie--they are talking about recycling the PACKAGING, not the gum itself.

As for me, I always buy Stride, solely because I love the "Dancing 2008" video (www.wherethehellismatt.com) and I want to reward them for sponsoring it. Unfortunately, the paper wrappers usually end up in the trash anyway because I spit the gum into them before depositing it in the trash. I don't want it getting stuck to the can.
Bette  on August 12, 2009 at 05:08 AM 7
Following up on Jean's comment, most outer packaging has the 800 # to call the manufacturer. Why not call them and suggest a change in packaging from plastic to renewable such as bamboo. If you don't buy these products, you can find them in a grocery store and just write down the 800# and the upc code, then make the call.
Rose  on August 12, 2009 at 06:38 AM 8
Has anybody else ever used the (outer)paper to make chains? I actually have one here. It's been being worked on )once in a while!) for over ten years. I will get some wrappers from people once in a while since I do not chew gum myself. I has a long chain strung in my room when I lived at home a very long time ago... ;)
Erin  on August 12, 2009 at 06:39 AM 9
It says to avoid mints in tins, but why? They are metal after all, so I just put them in with my curbside recycling.
Janet  on August 12, 2009 at 07:42 AM 10
Do the people who spit out their gum realize what happens to my Tevas when I step on that wad as I innocently walk along the sidewalk? YUK!!
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