The Ancient Greeks used to chew resin from the Mastic tree while the Aztecs and Mayans enjoyed chicle, a tree sap that they also used as an early form of adhesive. Native Americans chewed the resin from spruce trees and settlers quickly picked up the habit.
By 1848 the first commercial chewing gum was being produced in America and before the turn of the 18th century a number of products were on the market, many of which, in name, are still in existence today.
Chicle was originally the raw ingredient of choice but as the need to chew expanded around the world supply was never going to meet the growing demand and by the 1950’s manufacturers were replacing it with a synthetic product. Nowadays, with the exception of a couple of ‘natural’ brands still made from chicle, all of the chewing gum on sale is made from butadiene-based synthetic rubber, a polymer, a plastic product made from oil, a bit like the stuff we use to make car tyres.
You probably had no idea that you were chewing on what is essentially a lump of malleable plastic and that’s not surprising, because the manufacturers don’t actually tell you as much – they kind of dodge around the detail. On the Wrigley’s website page entitled ‘What Gum is Made Of’ the section about the gum base, the main ingredient, states, ‘Gum base puts the “chew” in chewing gum, binding all the ingredients together for a smooth, soft texture. The Wrigley Company uses synthetic gum base materials for a consistent and safe base that provides longer-lasting flavor, improved texture and reduced tackiness.’ It almost sounds natural and rather yummy. I suspect if they wrote, ‘The Wrigley Company uses butadiene-based synthetic rubbers, polymers synthesised from petroleum by products, similar to those used in car tyres,’ that might not be so appealing.
The the global chewing gum market is worth around US$19 billion a year with two companies accounting for 60% of the market share and it is growing by approximately 4.5% every year. That’s 374 trillion sticks of gum with a total estimated weight of 100,000 tonnes. That is 100,000 tons of plastic pollution being thrown into the environment every year! It is estimated that in the next 5 years, over 1 million metric tonnes of chewing gum will be produced, chewed and thrown away, totally unregulated and without anyone really knowing what the implications are. Clearly something needs to be done.
Text modified from "Justoneocean"
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #plastic #chewinggum #plasticfree

Our clean ups are always the last Sunday of every month at 10am and our next clean up is in Mona Vale. All welcome to this family friendly event! The more the merrier. Do a good deed for the planet and make new friends at the same time ​

A massive thank you to all crew members who contacted Cancer Council Australia in regards to them using "turtle killers" (balloons) to promote Daffodil Day. Together we can create more awareness about the harm balloons do to our fragile environment and precious wildlife. Thanks to you, Cancer Council Australia removed all their balloons from the wharf. We would also like to thank Cancer Council Australia for showing that the care, not only for people but also for animals. We hope that next year, there will be no more balloons on Daffodil Day.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” ― Margaret Mead 

Turtle killers used to promote "Daffodil Day" to raise funds for cancer research for humans while killing our precious wildlife and fragile environment. The little penguins that call Manly home are endangered and already face threats both at sea and on land. Do you think they can raise money without using balloons?
Waste Minimisation at Functions and Events Policy is Northern Beaches Council's policy and it requires event organisers to reduce their waste, promote sustainable procurement and increase recycling at public events held on Council property. The Policy and Guidelines BAN event organisers selling or distributing single-use plastics, BALLOONS, bottled water and single serve sachets.
Balloons are in the top three most harmful waste items to wildlife. Birds and turtles not only ingest balloons, they actively select them as food. This is because a burst balloon often resembles a jellyfish, the natural food sources of many marine species like turtles.
Ingesting balloons, and the clips and strings attached to them, can cause intestinal blockages and results in a slow painful death through starvation. Marine animals don’t have the gastrointestinal pH levels to breakdown a balloon and for turtles, it may also cause floating syndrome. Trapped gases in the gut can cause a turtle to become buoyant, unable to dive for food—making them vulnerable to boat strikes and leading to starvation and severe dehydration.
Wildlife, both terrestrial and marine, can also become entangled in balloon ribbons or strings, causing injury or death through drowning, suffocation, or an inability to feed and avoid predators.
Even if balloons are disposed of "safely" they go to landfill where it may take up to 1,000 years to decompose, leaching potentially toxic substances into the soil and water. Why are some organisations like this so stubborn in regards to using balloons as "advertising fun?
Even if these balloons are biodegradable, it's greenwash. Natural latex may be biodegradable, but after adding chemicals, plasticizers and artificial dyes, how natural could it be? It may degrade after several years, but it’s surely not “biodegradable.”

Imagine if shops and brands were fined for their products being littered?
It is estimated Australians use 1 billion disposable coffee cups each year. That's approximately 2,700,000 paper coffee cups thrown out every day!
Out of these it is estimated 50,000 disposable coffee cups (and their lids) find their way into landfill every 30mins!
If that needless waste frustrates you like it does us, you can make a difference (and encourage others) simply by BYO coffee cup. Together we can all be part of the solution!

7-Eleven encourages all Australians to make a small change to their daily habits and use their reusable cups in store as part of the 7-Eleven free coffee initiative. This small change, over time, will make a significant contribution to reducing single-use cup waste. Free coffee with ANY reusable cup until the 2nd of September. 👍
It is estimated Australians use 1 billion disposable coffee cups each year. That's approximately 2,700,000 paper coffee cups thrown out every day!
Out of these it is estimated 50,000 disposable coffee cups (and their lids) find their way into landfill every 30mins!
If that needless waste frustrates you like it does us, you can make a difference (and encourage others) simply by BYO coffee cup. Together we can all be part of the solution!