Certified microplastic-free: flustix makes Forest Gum a pioneer in the chewing gum industry

Berlin / Cologne, 27 October 2026. What many consumers do not know: the gum base of conventional chewing gum often contains synthetic plastics. The trendy Cologne-based brand Forest Gum relies on plant-based natural rubber instead. Now the company is taking a decisive step: Forest Gum is the world’s first chewing gum brand to receive independent certification under the flustix programme “PLASTIC-FREE – Product Content Microplastic-Free”.

This makes a product property that was previously invisible to consumers scientifically verifiable and backs it with an independent certificate. The basis is the flustix certification programme. The laboratory analysis was carried out by CURRENTA, a laboratory accredited to ISO/IEC 17025, and the independent certification by TÜV SÜD in Austria (TÜV SÜD Landesgesellschaft Österreich), which is accredited to ISO/IEC 17065.

Malte Biss, founder and managing director of flustix:

“Consumers can neither see, taste, smell nor feel microplastics. That makes it all the more important to certify the absence of microplastics independently and on a sound scientific basis. Forest Gum impressively demonstrates how a brand promise becomes robust product evidence that builds trust and that consumers can immediately understand.”

From product promise to independent proof

With Forest Gum, flustix shows how scientifically sound certification and credible brand communication work together. The test programme covers not only intentionally added microplastic particles but also possible unintentional inputs from raw materials and manufacturing processes, which the laboratory analysis detects. It is based on the European definition of synthetic polymer microparticles under REACH, as set out in Regulation (EU) 2023/2055.

Forest Gum was founded in 2019 by Thomas Krämer and has established itself with chewing gum based on FSC 100% certified natural rubber as an alternative to conventional ingredients. Today the brand is stocked by food retailers throughout Germany and combines its modern lifestyle approach with a commitment to forest protection.

Thomas Krämer, founder of Forest Gum:

“For us, the certification is therefore an important milestone: our own standard becomes an independently verified product property. We hope that such evidence, particularly with regard to microplastics, will in future become the norm for food as well.”

New standards for credible product communication

Since 27 September 2026, the European EmpCo Directive has set stricter requirements for environmental claims and sustainability labels. For brand owners, concrete and verifiable product evidence is therefore becoming even more important.

This is exactly where flustix comes in: scientifically sound certification programmes and only accredited testing and certification partners build trust, support regulatory substantiation and make verified product properties visible through easily understood trustmarks.

Forest Gum is therefore not only a beacon for the chewing gum industry, but also an example of what credible environmental communication can look like in the future.

The public certificate is available at https://flustix.com/en/FPMT022/.

Free press images: Forest Gum x flustix

About FOREST GUM

FOREST GUM was founded in 2019 by Thomas Krämer with a clear goal: to bring chewing gum with a plant-based instead of a synthetic gum base to market as a plastic-free alternative to conventional chewing gum. The rubber used is FSC 100% certified and therefore comes from FSC-certified, responsibly managed forests. Since 2024, the product range has also included vegan fruit gums in compostable packaging (according to DIN EN 13432/NF T51-800:2015).

Today the company has eleven employees, and its products are available throughout Germany at almost all major food retailers as well as in its own online shop. FOREST GUM is committed to forest protection: in 2023, together with Woodify, the company launched the scientifically monitored project “Wildwuchs”. Natural rewilding is being promoted on a 100-hectare forest area in North Rhine-Westphalia. To support it, Forest Gum donates a high five-figure sum every year, regardless of sales. True to the motto: Chew Good. Do Good.

All products and further information at www.forestgum.de

About flustix | RETHINK PLASTICS

flustix develops scientifically sound certification programmes and internationally applicable trustmarks for products and packaging. Certified properties include freedom from microplastics, freedom from PFAS, plastic reduction, recycled content and recyclability. Independent testing and certification are carried out by accredited partners. flustix thus combines credible environmental communication with product evidence that can be used for regulatory purposes.

Further information: www.flustix.com

About TÜV SÜD in Austria

TÜV SÜD is the specialist for industry, mobility and certification. The company is a responsible process partner in the core competencies of testing, inspection, expert opinions, certification and training, supporting customers across the entire value chain. More than 200 highly qualified employees at sites in Vienna, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol and Vorarlberg enable sustainable economic success and make a significant contribution to the safety and reliability of technical innovations. The Austrian national company is a subsidiary of TÜV SÜD and part of the worldwide network of expertise with more than 30,000 employees at over 1,000 locations in more than 50 countries. www.tuvsud.com/at

Press contact

flustix GmbH

Julia Biss
BISS PR & Communications

Tel.: +49 30 809 333 100
E-Mail: j.biss@biss-pr.de

Forest Gum

Kirsten Hedinger
HEDINGER COMMUNICATIONS GMBH

Tel.: +49 40 421011-12
Mobile: +49 171 5047030
E-Mail: hedinger@hedinger-pr.de

Ingeborg Trampe
trampe communication

Mobile: +49 173 3113675
E-Mail: ingeborg@trampe-communication.de