Positioned as a natural alternative to conventional chewing gum, Honest Gum continues to go from strength to strength in its quest for plastic-free sustainability, and has just undertaken a branding refresh.
As part of the business’ push to become fully plastic-free in all aspects of its product, the chewing gum producer has changed its packaging and says it now uses 100 per cent biodegradable, compostable cardboard in its packs. Its packaging tape is also biodegradable, it claims.
The flip-top packs come in a range of soft pastels with fun patterns depicting individual flavours.
Marie Pallas, founder of Honest Gum, said a little-known fact is that of the 100,000 tonnes of chewing gum consumed each year, 95 per cent of it contains synthetic ‘gum base’. In other words, plastic.
Wanting to create a natural alternative, Pallas created a gum made the traditional way using natural chicle, a sustainably harvested natural sap from the Sapodilla tree from Central America.
The tree sap is extracted from each tree every six to seven years, and is done in a very gentle way that does not destroy or compromise the tree’s survival, according to the company. Each tree can produce gum continuously for up to 300 years.
After chewing, the gum can be thrown in the compost and it will decompose in approximately 12-15 months.
The brand, along with other sustainable products in the competitive natural sweets market, will be on display at this year’s Naturally Good event at Sydney’s International Convention & Exhibition Centre (ICC) from 5-6 June.
With the gum’s Fruit Flavour its most popular variety, Honest Gum, which also comes in eclectic flavours of Cinnamon, Eucalypus Mint and Lemon Ginger, contains no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.
It also doesn’t contain any petrochemical bases either, making it plant-based, completely plastic-free and sugar-free.
“So, unlike conventional gum found in supermarkets, the product is 100 per cent biodegradable and compostable,” said Pallas.
The business’ main markets are health food stores, independent grocers, pharmacies, cafes, service stations and dentists. They are also available for purchase at the Honest Gum’s online store with further aims for expansion.
