Truly Plastic-Free Chewing Gum in Plastic-Free Packaging!
Almost all chewing gum is made with plastic, plastic which hides in a secret ingredient called “gum base.” The few gums that don’t contain plastic as an ingredient come in plastic packaging. Finally, there’s a U.S. company — Simply Gum — offering a completely natural, GMO-free chewing gum made with organic ingredients and without any plastic gum base or plastic packaging.
Simply Gum is made from only 6 ingredients: organic raw cane sugar, all natural chicle (rubber from a tree), cinnamon, organic vegetable glycerin, organic sunflower lecithin, and organic rice flour.
November 2014 Update: Simply Gum now comes in more flavors besides cinnamon! Try mint, fennel licorice, maple, ginger, or coffee flavors.
The gum comes in a cardboard box, which includes some thin sheets of paper for wrapping and disposing of the gum responsibly when you’re finished chewing it.
I’m not much of a gum chewer myself, but I know people who are. (I’m married to one.) So this will be exciting news for those of you who stopped chewing gum when you found out about the plastic in it.
Win a 6-pack of Simply Gum
04/17/14 Update: The drawing is over and Megan is the winner. Congratulations!
Apparently Glee is transitioning their gum base to all natural ingredients packaged only in cardboard! And you can get sugar free versions sweetened only with Xylitol. Cool!
Yes.I’ve been talking to them. Am waiting until all of their gum has switched over to the new gum base before writing about it. The last I heard, only the original version with sugar had made the switch, but that was a few months ago.
Hi Linda. I don’t check Facebook messages very often and just saw this comment. Thank you! I have emailed the company for a sample to review.
oh yay ! my daughter loves gum but we never buy it for her. the treat i miss is trying out an ice cream flavor at the ice cream store — plastic spoon! once, when in santa cruz, the lady asked me if i wanted to try something and i instinctually said no thanks — until i noticed they actually had real spoons for testers! score! wish everyone did that, and i wish the local folk here in chico didn’t call me crazy when i bring in my own container for my scoop since i’m not a fan of cones 🙂
also, not a sweet, but i just can’t stand making tortillas especially in our hot summers, and especially considering the volume we eat, it’s just far too time consuming, and it’s the one exception i’ve regularly made — organic corn tortillas. still looking for someone to make them for me, and not stick them in a plastic bag.
thanks! i’m claire underscore bug at yahooooo
My last cigarette was January 5, 2014. I searched for a gum without high fructose corn syrup. Hoping the gum would help me not smoke.
I found one. But nothing was organic. The knowledge I can buy an organic chewing gum it the best news I have heard in a very long time. I am excited to make an order and see how it taste.
eascello You can make your own: add molasses to white sugar.
Daxle See if a Mexican restaurant that makes their own will sell you some.
crunchylass at gmail dot com My hubby chews gum constantly! This would be nifty.
The best solution I’ve found for treats packed in plastic is to make my own! They’re usually a bit better for you, too.
running_fox_li (at) yahoo (dot) com
Frankly, the treat is gum. Mom always had a pack, so I got into the habit of chewing it early. I haven`t bought as much in the past few years, and hardly any at all in the past few months (the last pack was Glee Gum). So, instead, I`ve been buying mints, since mint-flavored gum was my go-to.
i would love to win this – for my kids. i can’t chew gum but my kiddos love it and i really cringe everytime they buy a pack – not just cuz there’s the plastic but all the terrible synthetic sweeteners, too!
cdj383 at gmail dot com.
Geesh, I haven’t had gum in years. Which is sad, because I found gum made it easier to concentrate during study sessions (and less likely to snack too).
Probably my number one gripe is all the plastic stickers on my produce. I bring my shopping bags, my reusable produce bags, my jars, etc. I avoid plastic when I can only to find my organic produce covered in plastic stickers. It drives me crazy!
I also find it really hard to buy cereal sans plastic. Nothing beats the speed of a quick bowl of cereal in the morning when I’m just out of time, and almost all cereal comes in a box with plastic or in a plastic bag. I would really dig some organic cereal in bulk or just cardboard that doesn’t TASTE like cardboard.
dream4eva77 at hotmail dot com
As a teacher I find that most of my students are addicted to gum. I tell them to spit it out in class, pick up the gum they spit out in the hallway (Yes I made a students do that. They were disgusted as they picked it up, and i told them it came out of their mouth.) and even finding it under the desk. One girl sat at a desk and got freshly placed gum on her nice dress! I doubt the middle schoolers will stop chewing- got to have that fresh breath- just in case 🙂
I think that ice cream is tough to find in plastic free containers. I have taken to only getting it when I go out and can get a cone, but it is tough to do when I am up late grading at decide an ice cream sounds good at 1 pm.
I also really like licorice (the red variety- some do not consider that licorice.) I think many of the varieties out there have the same plastic that is in the gum. I haven’t looked to much into it though. I just stopped eating it because I mostly find it wrapped in plastic.
Mairki at gmail dot com
Plastic free gum makes so much sense, and I love cinnamon!– It’s hard to believe that our society is so arrogant/trusting to make/chew plastic in gum! (Not to mention artificial sweeteners, but that’s another can of worms.)
Here is my plastic dilemma: I love shopping at Costco because I can get quality goods at a fair price, they supply organic when possible, I support their business model as it relates to fair, living wages, and everyone who works there seems genuinely happy to be there– but the plastic waste! You would think that bulk stores could do so much better at reducing plastic, but they seem to create more of it instead. I think big box stores would be a good target for change like Trader Joes has been.
What a wonderful creation! I have been trying to wean my husband off plastic gum, and this might be just the trick! mgarland at coa dot edu
In a very plastic-reduced household, one of the things that we just can’t find that doesn’t come in plastic are…dehydrated backpacking meals. Imagine if a company made meals that were packaged in materials that you could use to start your campfire? We do extremely well in the household, but even with making our own granola bars, etc., plastic waste is, ironically, harder to avoid in the backcountry.
Thank you for mentioning Garbology. Never heard of it before, will get a copy and read!
While we can bring reusable containers to the grocery store, I hate that the bulk bins are still made of plastic. : emily -at- fishbulb -dot- us
NoemiDLP at yahoo dot com would be thrilled to have a sample of the gum.
Also just want to say thank you for the support and ideas in your book. As I declutter my house, I am sending stuff off to recyclers that you mention in the book. Also thanks for the great footnotes, which sometimes I quote as I work on the NJ plastic and paper bag fee support system within the masses. I also recommend Plastic Ocean – whoa. Sobering. Garbology by Edward Humes is also fascinating.
Thank you!
N.
So excited to see a gum I can give to my energetic son (it seems to allow him to focus a bit more) that has no plastic!
rita dot desnoyers at gmail dot com
Use stainless steel water bottles, carry my own spoon, decline straws, and bring my own bags to stores.
My biggest desire would be to have less packaging in general and have it biodegradable. I love Trader Joes, but not their packaging!
Looks like fun! I too have stopped chewing gum because of its gross additives.
Julumarie at gmail dot com
I wish we weren’t so reliant on plastic on a whole! I’ve stopped purchasing plastic water bottles but glass bottles still have a plastic cap top!
Thx for the post!
I was an avid gum chewer as a kid. I stopped chewing gum when they added all those horrible artificial sweeteners and dyes in there. And now plastic free natural chewing in my all time favorite flavor is too good to be true. When I read the ingredient list it was even more exciting because it is safe for my child with severe food allergies. All safe ingredients for her.
Wish I could find more natural caramels not wrapped in plastic! Only found some at our farmer’s market locally but they were exorbitant so I think I need to make my own.
Hope to try some soon! mimiyoshi at gmail dot com is the way to find me.
We’d love to win the 6-pack of gum. My daughter hasn’t had gum in over a year; a feat for a 12 year old! We’ve been buying treats from the bulk bin such as chocolate covered almonds, yogurt pretzels, rice crackers. We are making it a point to bake something together once a week (like soft ginger cookies or banana bread) for snacks instead of buying in plastic. Our email is ecom8s@gmail.com
Thanks! My 12 year old daughter has not had gum in over a year after she read about what the ingredients actually were. I’m so proud of her! She’ll be ecstatic to try this gum.
Daxle My family loves my homemade tortillas so we no longer buy them in plastic. Here is the recipe:
4 c unbleached flour*
1 1/2 tsp baking powder*
1 1/2 tsp salt*
1/2 c organic butter, cut into 1″ chunks
1 to 1 1/2 c warm water
To make vegan low-fat tortillas: Instead of butter, take 1/2 c of the flour and blend it with 1/2 cup of vegetable/olive oil and freeze for 2 hours. Then use in place of the butter.
1. Mix the flour, baking soda and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. (If you don’t have a stand mixer, use a large bowl with a fork or pastry blender.) On low speed, add the butter. When the butter is incorporated and the flour mixture looks crumbly, add the water in a slow stream with the mixer running, just until the dough sticks together and clears the side of the bowl. NOTE: Don’t add too much water… not only will the dough be sticky and difficult to work with… too much water makes for tough tortillas! Knead briefly– no more than 10 times– until a smooth ball forms. Shape into a cylinder and cover with a dish towel. Let the dough rest for about 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.
2. After the dough has rested– for 8″-9″ tortillas– divide the dough into 15 equal portions. Shape each portion into a ball, cover with the dish towel and let rest for 20-30 minutes.
3. To roll out the tortillas, place the ball on your thumb and make an indention creating a “mushroom” shape. The air pocket inside helps the dough roll out into a (near) perfect circle 🙂 Flatten the ball then roll it out into a thin circle just like you would for a pie crust. Start from the center, making quarter turns often and never pressing the edges.
4. To cook the tortillas, heat an ungreased cast-iron skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Place as many tortillas in the pan that will fit without overlapping. Cook until bubbles start to form then flip to the other side. Also, as bubbles form just take a spatula and press them down. When the tortillas are done, the dough will look dry and have brown spots.
Yay! I’ve really missed gum since I’ve started avoiding plastic. I’m excited to try this, even if I don’t win.
I felt you when you talked about the issue of tortillas coming wrapped in plastic, because that’s been the hardest for me for a long time. I stopped eating them for about a year, and tried to make my own, but honestly, they all sucked. Now I buy them sometimes, but I always feel a little guilty. I would love to find plastic-free tortillas.
Thanks for sharing! This reminds me of Chicza organic chewing gum
that I bought years ago (http://www.chicza.com). However, when I
searched for it online, it seems to come in foil wrap… Too bad! But
thankfully Simply Gum provides a good alternative. I don’t chew gum
myself, but will recommend them to others that do.
unfrostedcereal at gmail dot com
It’s difficult to find plastic free ice cream at any grocery store.
eascello at gmail dot com
This is great! I don’t chew gum that often, but it’s nice to know there is now an option!
I have yet to find brown sugar packaged plastic free.
Very cool! Thanks for the neat give away. I stopped chewing gum when I first started my green journey, but then gradually went back to it…. so a clean alternative would be awesome. I’ve struggled with plastic free fruit leather! It is my easy go-to snack that I just always keep in my bag. I tried making my own a couple times – my results were more on the leather side. This summer I will try again!
sarahshepherd963 at gmail.com
Megan.ennes at gmail dot com. I hate that not only is gum made with plastic but all the extra plastic packaging is crazy too. This is a great alternative. Thank you!
Me too, I can’t remember how long it’s been since I chewed a piece of gum. I make tons of treats and foods just to keep from having to bring plastic into our house. judithcruzan@yahoo.com
Thanks for all your great research, Beth!
Gail@glassdharma.com
I want some. I dropped gum like a hot rock when I found out it was basically made of plastic–and figured that was why I sometimes got stomach aches. Plus all the packaging I was tossing made me depressed and angry with myself. So, contact me at quercusalanus@hotmail dot com. What else can I not find not wrapped on plastic: q-tips, emery boards. I know, I know these are not treats, but I haven’t bought any since I discovered you (over two years ago). It would be a treat to have some!