Is your chewing environmentally friendly?

Chewing gums...
I have personally not been much of a chewer, the occasional time here and there and perhaps in school to be like the cool kids. 
At the same time, not caring that much for chewing, I have not payed that much attention to gums.. until recently, where a Facebook post prompted me to comment with what I thought were environmental and societal impacts of chewing-gum in order to win some sustainable chewing gum...
"Wait, one moment, what did you just ask me?! Environmental impacts of gum??"


So, having a curious scientist mind, I went on to read.
Here are some impacts I found out about:

• 90% of chewing gums are not disposed of properly and it's the second form of litter following cigarette butts
• Chewing gums is made of non-biodegradable plastic polymers (ugh! And you put them in your mouth?!)
• Not being disposed of properly these gums enter the food chain, not only endangering animals life but also spreading chemicals, as plastic contains plenty of persistent organic pollutants which bioaccumulate in tissues across the food chain ...and guess what? We are at the top of said chain so we get it all back

If you want to know more, here is a great article on the Ecologist 

And a great infographic by Custom Made

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Sustainable, environmentally friendly gum does exist - if you really can't resist chewing!
Check online or in your local eco shops, and make sure it is made from sustainable sources.. natural does not automatically mean environmentally friendly! 
Or, some actually natural alternatives to chewing gum (healthier as well!) 

• cloves
• fennel seeds
• cardamom pods 
• mint leaves
• liquorice bark