Our Products
Responsible Gum Disposal and Environmental Education
"As a long-standing partner, Wrigley has demonstrated a commitment toward tackling the issue of litter and encouraging serious action through campaigns that promote cleaner communities through long-term behavior change."
Phil Barton, chief executive Keep Britain Tidy
While the vast majority of consumers dispose of their gum properly, not everyone has the same respect for their communities. We take the issue of littered chewing gum seriously and believe that education and awareness are critical parts of the solution.
For decades, we've supported programs around the world, including:
- In-school education programs that help young people develop a respect for their local environment
- Community awareness campaigns in support of local government efforts
- Antilittering campaigns
We've also committed to a significant research and development program focused on creating a gum base that is easier to remove if improperly disposed, while retaining the same flavor and quality that customers expect. However, behavior change is more effective than a technical solution in reducing all forms of litter.
In-School Education
We support the development of responsible habits among young people through in-school education. For more than six years, we’ve sponsored environmental education programs promoting recycling and responsible disposal across Australia in partnership with Keep Australia Beautiful. In 2010, these programs reached more than 80,000 schoolchildren and several hundred teachers.
Across schools in the U.K. and Ireland, we spread the message of responsible disposal through in-school entertainment. The "Bin It" program, created by Wrigley in 2006, includes teacher lessons plans and features a six-week in-school actor who brings the issue of responsible behavior to life. Since its inception, Bin It has toured more than 300 schools and reached over 42,000 students in the U.K. and Ireland.
In 2008, Wrigley Germany introduced Kau mit Kopfen ("chew smartly"), a website designed to raise interest in environmental issues among teenagers. Over the last two years, we’ve continued to enhance the site and offer new ways for teens to spread the message.
Community Awareness Campaigns
We partner with local government initiatives to extend our education efforts. In the U.K., we are a founding and active member of the Chewing Gum Action Group (CGAG), a government and
industry joint initiative to find a long-term solution to irresponsible chewing gum disposal. The CGAG partners with local authorities to promote proper disposal through advertising campaigns. Over the last three years, the campaigns have reduced littered gum by an average of 50 percent across participating communities.
In Ireland, we have had similar success supporting the industry and government-run Gum Litter Taskforce. Through a three-year program, spanning 21 towns, the GLT achieved a drop in littered gum of 36 percent in 2008 and a further 37 percent in 2009.
Anti-Littering Campaigns
We support broad campaigns to stimulate involvement and passion for a cleaner community. In China, for example, we spread the word about antilittering in preparation for the 2008 Olympics and in 2010 leading up to the Shanghai Expo, a world fair that attracted 73 million people from 250 countries. To encourage responsible behavior leading up to and during the Expo, Wrigley sponsored antilittering advertising at more than 100 bus stops throughout the city.
As a founding member of Keep America Beautiful in the United States, we've supported the organization's vision since 1953. For the past decade, we've served as a sponsor of the Great American Clean-Up, the nation’s largest community involvement program. Through the ORBIT® "Live Clean" campaign, we have donated $300,000 to the further support the organization’s efforts.
In the U.K., Wrigley is part of the initial steering group responsible for funding and launching the "Love Where You Live Campaign." Led by Keep Britain Tidy, the campaign brings together business, government councils and litter campaigning groups to tackle littering of all kinds.
