Editorial policy · Version 1.0

How we rank plastic-free gum

Every point has to be earned by evidence a reader can inspect. Marketing volume, free samples, affiliate relationships and popularity do not affect rank.

Effective 30 August 2026 · UK-first market review · Scores are revisited when material evidence changes

The 100-point framework

Plastic-free base evidence — 20 points

We reward a named gum-base material, its source and a sufficiently precise formula. “Plant based” without a named base earns less. A generic “gum base” does not establish a plastic-free product.

Public product-specific laboratory evidence — 15 points

Reports must be traceable to the product or batch. We look for the laboratory, date, method and reporting limits. A company-wide quality statement or an unnamed study cannot be scored as a product test.

Ingredient profile — 20 points

Complete ingredient disclosure scores first. We then assess sweeteners and additives with dose-aware context. Xylitol is never treated as simply “good” or “bad”: it has recognised dental uses, can cause digestive effects in excess and is highly toxic to dogs.

Packaging, sourcing and biodegradability — 20 points

We check the box, wrapper, coating and delivery packaging separately from the gum base. Precise, independently supported degradation or sourcing evidence scores more than a broad environmental slogan.

Flavour range — 15 points

Useful choice matters, but flavour count cannot compensate for weak base disclosure or missing evidence.

UK access and value — 10 points

We consider whether a UK shopper can actually buy the product, along with current pack size, delivery burden and price per piece. This category is time-sensitive and is rechecked more often than formulation evidence.

Commercial independence

A brand cannot pay for a higher score or a place in the ranking. Direct and affiliate links are recorded separately from editorial evidence. When an affiliate link is used, it must be disclosed with machine-readable sponsored markup and pass the automated commercial-link check. If a tracking relationship stops working, the safe fallback is a direct brand link—not a fabricated or stale affiliate URL.

Adding a new product

A candidate needs a current first-party product page, a complete ingredient panel, a defensible base claim, packaging detail, an accessible purchase route and enough evidence to score each category honestly. Secondary roundups are discovery leads, never final proof. Products are held for review when their identity, availability or claims cannot be verified.

Corrections

Small errors should be corrected promptly without silently changing the logic of a score. A material ranking change must update the reviewed date, source register and explanation. We preserve uncertainty instead of filling a gap with a confident guess.