Chewing gum can be bad for the environment. It is made of plastic, like the material used in car tyres.
Many people are shocked to learn this. Most gum packages do not tell you what is inside. They just say “gum base.”
This “gum base” can have chemicals like styrene-butadiene, polyethylene, and polyvinyl acetate. These are also used in plastic bags and glues.
The chewing gum market is very big. In 2025, it might be worth about $49 billion. A lot of it comes from just a few companies, like Wrigley.
People make about 1.74 trillion pieces of gum each year. This means over 2 million tonnes of gum are produced. When you throw away gum, it does not break down. It stays in the environment for a long time.
Cleaning up gum is hard and costs a lot of money. In the UK, it can cost £7 million each year. Everyone should be careful with their gum. We need to find better ways to help the environment.
Vocabulary List:
- Environment /ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/ (noun): The natural world including the land water and atmosphere.
- Plastic /ˈplæstɪk/ (noun): A synthetic material made from a wide range of organic polymers.
- Chemicals /ˈkɛmɪkəlz/ (noun): Substances used in or produced by chemical processes.
- Produce /prəˈduːs/ (verb): To create or manufacture something.
- Cost /kɔːst/ (noun): The amount of money required to purchase or do something.
- Break down /breɪk daʊn/ (verb): To decompose or disintegrate into smaller parts.
How much do you know?
What materials are used to make chewing gum?
Which chemicals can be found in the
How much is the chewing gum market estimated to be worth by 2025?
What happens to gum when it is thrown away?
How much does it cost in the UK to clean up gum each year?
Why should everyone be careful with their gum?
Chewing gum is not harmful to the environment.
Most gum packages provide detailed information about their contents.
Gum base contains chemicals also used in plastic bags and glues.
Chewing gum breaks down easily in the environment.
Cleaning up gum does not require significant costs.
Finding better ways to help the environment is unnecessary.
In 2025, the chewing gum market might be worth about $ billion.
When thrown away, gum does not easily in the environment.
Cleaning up gum is a difficult and task.
To help the environment, everyone should be cautious with their .
