Campaigners call for plastic chewing gum ban

The letter launches a new campaign called “Chew Plants Not Plastic” run by City to Sea and plastic-free chewing gum company Nuud Gum.  

The letter highlighted that campaigners are concerned that the majority of consumers are unaware that chewing gum is a single-use plastic.  

Campaigners added that the UK consumes four billion pieces of plastic gum annually, equivalent to four billion plastic straws. At the same time, it is estimated that 87% of UK pavements are affected by gum litter which costs millions of pounds to clean.  

The open letter’s signatories include:  

• Sian Sutherland (co-founder, Plastic Health Council) 

• Amy and Ella Meek (co-founders, Kids Against Plastic and Plastic Clever Schools) 

• Jane Martin (CEO, City to Sea) 

• Rebecca Prince-Ruiz OAM (founder, Plastic Free July) 

• Daniel Webb (founder and director, Everyday Plastic) 

• Jo Royle (founder, Common Seas) and Charlotte Davies (managing director, Common Seas) 

Jane Martin, CEO at City to Sea, said: “Plastic pollution isn’t just an environmental crisis—it’s a human health emergency. Shockingly, chewing gum is made of plastic, meaning every chew is like biting into a plastic straw.

“It breaks down into micro-plastics that are inhaled, ingested, and absorbed into our bodies. Scientific evidence links this to obesity, fertility issues and cancer. It’s time for the UK to take the final stand against plastic gum and pollution for the health of people and the planet.” 

The campaign has called on consumers to use the hashtag #ChewPlantsNotPlastic to raise awareness and “demand transparency from industry giants”.  

Nuud gum

Nuud gum was founded by BBC Dragon’s Den entrepreneur Keir Carnie. 

According to the campaign, most gum ingredients lists refer to a “gum base” which often constitutes of plastics such as polyethylene, polyvinyl acetate and butadiene-styrene rubber.  

Keir Carnie, founder of Nuud added: “Big Gum is today’s Big Tobacco and is responsible for a major health and plastic-pollution crisis. Plastic gum manufacturers have proven unwilling to change their damaging ways, so we’re calling on the Government to address this four billion piece per year problem and ban the sale of plastic gum.”