Chewing on Petroleum Products?

Did you know that most chewing gum is a petroleum product? The original source of gum base was from tree sap but in our modern age this has been replaced with synthetic polymers. Chewing gum is mostly a delivery system for sugar but there are some health applications such as tobacco abatement and teeth protection. You might want to consider some of these healthy alternatives:
Licorice root, sunflower seeds and nuts are good if you just want to chew on something. If bad breath is a concern then parsley and (surprise!) water are great options.

Plants Not Plastic

In a society that is fueled by capitalism and petroleum, often we are blinded to the adverse affects of petroleum based products. What alternative products exist to help us move away from our Mountain Dew bottles piled up in our bedrooms?

PlantBottle technology is an initiative started by the Coca-Cola Company in 2009 as a first step toward producing environmentally friendly packaging for their products. This alternative oil product makes up 30 percent of all Coca-Cola Company plastics in North America. In the last decade, Coca-Cola has worked with major companies worldwide to use PlantBottle such as Nike, Proctor & Gamble, and H.J. Heinz.  The goal is to work towards 100% plant-based plastics.

With so many major companies interested in PlantBottle and other plant-based technologies, we will continue to see more products that are alternatives to our copious amounts of petroleum based plastics.

Another company that is paving the way for alternative plastic products is the Tipa Corporation. Through years of hard work and dedication Tipa Corp. was able to manufacture a plant-based plastic product that is 100% bio-degradable. 

One of the biggest barriers for bio-degradable packaging is the durability of the packaging over long periods of time. In the past, these plant-based packages were unable to keep products fresh and properly sealed. 

 Plastic waste is an issue that affects every person on the planet. If we as a whole can continue to combat this issue, we may be able to reduce our carbon footprint, one step at a time.

Sources:

http://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/great-things-come-in-innovative-packaging-an-introduction-to-plantbottle-packaging

https://www.biobasedworldnews.com/clever-orange-peel-design-for-plant-based-packaging-imitates-nature-and-acts-as-compost-for-future-growth