Chewing Gum Brands Ranked for Microplastics (2026)

MicroPlastics Research DeskEditorial team

December 15, 2025

10 min read

Last reviewed: May 25, 2026 by the MicroPlastics Research Desk. Submit a correction or see our editorial standards.

Quick Answer

Most mainstream chewing gum brands, Trident, Extra, Orbit, 5 Gum, Stride, Mentos, Bubblicious, use synthetic gum bases (polyethylene, polyvinyl acetate, styrene-butadiene rubber, butyl rubber). The 2025 UCLA pilot study found a single piece can release 200-600 microplastic particles in 20 minutes of chewing. The truly polymer-free alternatives, gums using chicle (sapodilla tree sap) as their base, are Glee Gum, Simply Gum, Chicza, and Pur (Pur uses some plant-derived options but verify per product). For daily chewers, this is one of the easiest meaningful microplastic reductions you can make.

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Pieces of pastel chewing gum and a blister pack on a clean pale surface

Key Takeaways

Most major brands (Trident, Extra, Orbit, 5 Gum, Stride, Mentos) use synthetic gum bases, polyethylene, polyvinyl acetate, styrene-butadiene rubber.
The FDA allows 45+ different polymers in “gum base”, manufacturers don't have to disclose which.
Chicle-based brands (Glee Gum, Simply Gum, Chicza, Pur certain products) use plant-derived sapodilla tree sap, not synthetic polymers.
The 2025 UCLA pilot study found 100+ microplastic particles per gram of gum, 600+ for outlier brands.
For a daily chewer, switching from synthetic to chicle gum eliminates an estimated 15,000+ microplastic particles per year.

The gum base label problem

When you read the ingredients list of a chewing gum, you'll see “gum base” listed, but not what's in it. The FDA permits more than 45 different ingredients under the “gum base” label (21 CFR 172.615), including:

Polyethylene (same plastic as plastic bags)
Polyvinyl acetate (used in white glue)
Styrene-butadiene rubber (used in car tyres)
Polyisobutylene (synthetic rubber)
Butyl rubber (used in inner tubes)
Paraffin wax (petroleum-derived)

Manufacturers don't have to disclose which combination they use, and most don't. The default assumption for any mainstream brand is that the gum base is synthetic.

The 2025 UCLA pilot study refresher

Sanjay Mohanty and Lisa Lowe at UCLA presented pilot data in March 2025 measuring microplastic release from 10 popular gum brands. Findings (recap from our dedicated chewing gum article):

Average ~100 microplastic particles per gram of gum.
One outlier brand released over 600 particles/gram.
94% of release happened in the first 8 minutes of chewing.
Both synthetic-labelled AND natural-labelled gums released particles in similar ranges, “natural” gum base claims often aren't verified.

Major brands ranked

Chewing gum brands ranked by gum-base material (verified labels 2025-2026)
Brand	Gum base type	Recommendation
Glee Gum	Chicle (sapodilla tree sap)	Best, verified plant-based; cardboard packaging available
Simply Gum	Chicle + plant ingredients	Best, verified plant-based; available in many flavors
Chicza Mayan Organic	Chicle	Best, fair-trade, organic chicle from Mayan forests
Pur Gum	Mix, some chicle, some synthetic depending on product	Verify per specific product; xylitol-sweetened
True Gum	Chicle + natural ingredients	Good, biodegradable; Danish brand
Trident	Synthetic gum base (undisclosed)	Avoid for daily use
Extra (Wrigley)	Synthetic gum base (undisclosed)	Avoid for daily use
Orbit (Wrigley)	Synthetic gum base (undisclosed)	Avoid for daily use
5 Gum (Wrigley)	Synthetic gum base (undisclosed)	Avoid for daily use
Stride (Cadbury)	Synthetic gum base (undisclosed)	Avoid for daily use
Mentos Gum	Synthetic gum base (undisclosed)	Avoid for daily use
Bubblicious / Bazooka	Synthetic gum base (undisclosed)	Avoid for daily use
Eclipse, Dentyne, Wrigley's Spearmint	Synthetic gum base (undisclosed)	Avoid for daily use

Where to buy chicle gum

Whole Foods Market, usually carries Glee Gum and Simply Gum.
Sprouts. Glee Gum and Pur.
Amazon, all the recommended chicle brands.
Thrive Market. Simply Gum, Glee Gum.
Direct from brand websites. Chicza, Simply Gum, Glee Gum all sell direct, often with subscription savings.
European pharmacies. Chicza and True Gum widely available.
Most major US grocers, increasingly carry at least Simply Gum in the natural-foods aisle.

How to read a gum label

Look for “chicle” or specific tree gum. If the ingredient list says chicle, sapodilla, jelutong, or another specific tree resin, it's plant-based.
If it just says “gum base”, assume synthetic. The default for any mainstream brand.
Don't trust “natural” or “plant-based” on the front without verifying via ingredient list, the 2025 UCLA study showed claims often don't hold up.
Look for biodegradable certifications (TÜV OK Biodegradable for True Gum, etc.) as a proxy signal.
Skip gum balls and vending machine gum, almost universally synthetic with no certification.

Alternatives to gum entirely

Xylitol mints (Spry, PUR mints, B-Fresh), dental-positive without gum base.
Sugar-free hard candies from natural-foods brands.
Plain water + breath strips (organic options exist).
Whole fennel seeds or cardamom pods, traditional breath fresheners in many cultures.

What the MicroPlastics app checks

Packaging material. PET, HDPE, PP, PS, multi-layer, glass, aluminum.
Container condition from the photo, scratches, dents, fade.
Product category, fresh, packaged, canned, frozen, takeout.
Use-context flags you log, microwave, heat, reuse, time stored.
Cited research behind the 0–100 risk score.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which chewing gum brands have no microplastics?

Chicle-based gums: Glee Gum, Simply Gum, Chicza Mayan Organic, True Gum, and most Pur Gum products use plant-derived sapodilla tree sap instead of synthetic polymers. These are the only major commercially-available truly polymer-free chewing gum options.

Does Trident have plastic in it?

Trident uses a synthetic "gum base", the manufacturer does not disclose the specific polymers, but the FDA allows polyethylene, polyvinyl acetate, styrene-butadiene rubber, and other synthetic polymers under that label. Like most major brands (Extra, Orbit, 5 Gum, Stride), Trident is best avoided for daily chewing.

Is sugar-free gum lower in microplastics?

No: sugar-free claims relate to sweetener (xylitol, aspartame, sucralose) not the gum base. Trident Sugar-Free, Orbit Sugar-Free, and Extra Sugar-Free all still use synthetic gum bases. Switch to chicle-based brands regardless of sugar content.

Are biodegradable chewing gums available?

Yes. True Gum (Danish brand, TÜV OK Biodegradable certified), Chicza (Mexican Mayan organic chicle), Simply Gum, and Glee Gum all biodegrade naturally because they're made from chicle tree sap rather than synthetic polymers.

Where can I buy plant-based chewing gum?

Whole Foods, Sprouts, Amazon, Thrive Market, and most natural-food aisles in major grocers carry Glee Gum and Simply Gum. Chicza and True Gum are easier to find online or in Europe. Most brands offer subscription savings direct.

How much microplastic do I avoid by switching gum?

The 2025 UCLA pilot study found ~100-600 microplastic particles per gram of synthetic gum, with 94% released in the first 8 minutes. For a daily chewer (1 piece/day), switching from synthetic to chicle gum eliminates an estimated 15,000+ microplastic particles per year of direct mouth exposure.

Sources

Lowe LE, Mohanty SK (2025). Chewing gum as a potential source of microplastic exposure: pilot study. American Chemical Society Spring Meeting / UCLA.
US Food and Drug Administration (2024). CFR Title 21 Section 172.615: Chewing gum base. US FDA.
European Food Safety Authority (2023). Food contact materials guidance: polymers in chewing gum. EFSA.
Beat the Microbead / Plastic Soup Foundation (2024). Synthetic polymers in everyday products: database. Plastic Soup Foundation.

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