Chewing Gums as Beach Toys: How a Biologist Wants to Make French Coasts Cleaner

La Rochelle – 17.06.2026: The French biologist Marine Guilbaud from La Rochelle has developed an innovative chewing gum that serves as a biodegradable beach toy. This chewing gum is intended not only to bring joy to children but also to contribute to reducing plastic waste on the coasts.

Chewing gums are a worldwide environmental problem because they are often carelessly discarded and decompose slowly in the environment. Guilbaud’s idea aims to solve this problem by developing a chewing gum that becomes a toy when chewed, thereby reducing plastic waste.

The development of this chewing gum is part of a broader initiative to improve the quality of coastal waters in France. In May 2026, the French government published an interministerial roadmap to improve the quality of coastal waters, aiming to prevent terrestrial pollution and reduce its impacts on the marine ecosystem, economy, and public health.

Despite these efforts, environmental pollution from plastic waste on the coasts remains a serious problem. According to a 2026 study, microplastic particles were detected in 100% of samples taken from French coastal waters, with the density of floating microplastic particles reaching up to 314,251 pieces per square kilometer in the Antarctic and up to 63,593 pieces per square kilometer in the Arctic Ocean.

Guilbaud’s innovative approach could contribute to reducing this waste by raising awareness of the impacts of plastic waste while providing an environmentally friendly alternative. By combining play and environmental awareness, this chewing gum could become a model for future eco-friendly products.

The development of this chewing gum is an example of increasing efforts in France to find innovative solutions to combat plastic pollution. Initiatives like the “Plages sans déchet plastique” charter, which enables coastal communities to commit to keeping their beaches clean, demonstrate growing dedication to environmental protection.

Although Guilbaud’s idea is promising, it remains to be seen how it will be received by the general public and what impact it will have on reducing plastic waste on the coasts. Nevertheless, this project shows that creative approaches to solving environmental problems can make an important contribution to marine environmental protection.

Overall, this example underscores the importance of innovation and awareness-raising in the fight against plastic pollution and the need to continuously seek new solutions to protect the environment for future generations.