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I like to chew gum, especially when it comes with a free comic or a riddle. I also like the idea that bubblegum has its very own flavor. I mean, that flavor might not have been on the planet until bubblegum was invented. That idea is neat to me, but I am a boring person with few friends.
Bubble gum may look and taste good, but it's not good for the environment. First of all, there is the issue of packaging. If you want to do something nice for the planet, buy gum with individual pieces that are wrapped in paper and contained in a recyclable packet. After chewing, recycle both the packet and the paper. Try not to buy gum that comes sealed in plastic. Orbit and Chiclets are examples of well-packaged gum. Gums that have little plastic bubbles which hold one square of gum each should be avoided, even if there are jokes printed on the packaging.
Also, I don't like those gums that have wrappers made of tin foil. They often cut my lips as I am trying to get the gum in my face faster.
This biggest problem is that gum doesn't seem to biodegrade. If you spit it out, it will stay around forever. Cities are plagued with gum-stained sidewalks. Singapore has stringent anti-gum laws, and there are entire businesses devoted to cleaning gum off of buildings and streets.
Science stepped up to the plate and invented a biodegradable gum in 2005. It is corn-based and once spat upon the ground, it biodegrades in about a fortnight. A patent was taken out for biodegradable gum in 2007. It doesn't seem like any company has released a marketable product yet, but it seems like they are on the verge of revolutionizing the chewing industry.
Chew gum sparingly until the biodegradable version is released, and always recycle the packaging.
Are you a green hipster looking for all things green and cool? Then you'll love actor and eco-activist Adrian Grenier and his team of environmental experts, who live it up with sustainable style on Planet Green TV's Alter Eco.
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