It seems that every other week, there’s a new article about how a popular or trusted brand has been discovered to be full of harmful ingredients or over-processed chemical compounds. Today’s consumers are more concerned than ever about the healthy and harmful ingredients in their food, drinks, and personal-care products. They want truly healthy and natural options. Trying to meet this modern consumer, the candy and gum industry has marketed various products over the years as being low in calories, as being sweetened with natural sweeteners, as being sugar-free, as being made with “natural” flavors, and as being made with “better-for-you” ingredients.
Sadly, the vast majority of ingredients in popular chewing gum are synthetic. Ping some of these brands through your mind, and you’ll start to understand how much of a Pandora’s Box you’re chewing on with every stick. If they’re using actual healthy ingredients, you wouldn’t just be chewing in favor of harmful environmental effects—you’d be canceling out part of the Proustian favor you bestowed by indulging in the first place.
LarineCo is a next-generation wellness brand that rethinks how today’s consumers tend to the health of their minds and bodies; it defines a new wellness territory, one dominated by truly natural products and ingredients that serve up function and flavor. In a marketplace mainly populated with products that are either synthetic (and not always safe) or disguised in a kind of greenwashed hype that might make someone feel good about what they’ve just bought, Larine stands out for its ultra-grounded, ultra-transparent way of doing business.
[SPOKESPERSON] explains the mission. “Our mission is to radically improve oral health by offering natural, sustainable, and effective products that people can trust. We want to shift the industry away from harsh, artificial ingredients and toward a more holistic, planet-friendly approach. It’s a lot to take on, and we do it because we believe everyone should be able to take care of their health without compromising their values.”
The Secret to Healthy Gum(s)
LarineCo produces a health-promoting chewing gum. Most standard brands of chewing gum are famously nutrient-deficient and often sugar-filled enough to negatively impact oral health. In contrast, LarineCo (and probably others I haven’t heard of yet) makes a chewing gum that helps more than it harms. Both Larine Original and Larine Calm (flavored with lavender) support good oral hygiene, reduce cavity formation, and even whiten teeth, according to my conversation with Junior.
[SPOKESPERSON] says that they were deeply dissatisfied with the way so many everyday products, especially those associated with oral health, are produced in the millions and billions, using synthetic ingredients and harmful chemicals. [SPOKESPERSON] knew that there had to be better ways of doing things—ways that would yield products that are not only effective but also safe, natural, and beneficial to people and the planet.
It all comes down to the ingredients and how they are put together. The flagship gum brands from LarineCo take a more modern, less traditional approach to using natural healing methods. The base of the gum contains the necessary elements to make it a natural compound gum. It boasts mastic (a resin from a tree), spruce sap (a natural tree resin), erythritol (a natural sugar alcohol that is fast-absorbing), and hydroxyapatite (which is found in teeth). The gum is then sweetened using xylitol, a natural sugar alcohol that improves oral health.
Values that are sustainable and holistic.
The holistic product line of LarineCo is driven by the company’s values and mission, which aim to enhance and tackle the market head-on. Like any customer-centric firm, LarineCo values acting with integrity and honesty, to put it simply. But that’s not good enough to satisfy the unfulfilled mission of this firm. The next facet of LarineCo’s mission mandates that they put real product value first; no greenwashing, no false claims, no hype. The ‘Earth matters.’ This is the next statement in LarineCo’s mission, which obviously underscores the value of planetary health. The last directive is sort of a warm ‘wink and nod’ toward societal values: Make decisions that benefit the environment and society. So there you have it. The (mostly) clear mission of LarineCo.
Every element of our business is influenced by these principles—from the ingredients we source to the way we engage with our community and treat our employees. A major turning point for us was the launch of our “one item sold = one tree planted” initiative. Seeing customers respond so positively to that initiative reinforced our belief that businesses can be both very profitable and purpose-driven.
A values-driven business model has become a popular choice for many companies wanting to participate in the economy, yet few of them have found the kind of success and stability that LarineCo has. The company hit eight figures in revenue just eight months into operation, a thrilling affirmation of the existing demand for their products. Meanwhile, it’s an environmental outfit; its give-back programs have apparently planted millions of trees. So, it seems a company that cares is, in this case, a company that succeeds.
“While the importance of financial stability for something like sustainability can’t be overstated, our true measure of success goes far beyond just profit,” says Umberto Cuyvers, chief financial officer of the company. “When customers tell us they love our products and align with our values and feel like they are a part of something greater, that’s certainly success. The real talk of the town is that we’ve financed and planted millions of trees. We’ve reduced our environmental impact massively in our facilities. And we’ve made oral health accessible and more ethical than a lot of people do in the same business. That, if you ask me, is the breathtaking part of the story, not the financials. Our mission is worth way more than measured by the almighty dollar.
Healthy Team, Healthy Company
Any corporation that assures a product delivering holistic health and then disregards the welfare of its teams is heading for the market’s exit ramp. Yet, LarineCo—in an act of corporate citizenship—provides its employees with good health, good feelings, and good reasons to stay part of the LarineCo family. And that, my friends, is an act of profit-motivated kindness that sails under the radar of most discussions of the well-being of workers in the 21st century. Larine’s quick development makes new investments imperative. That’s why we’re doing some things you’ve probably seen (or haven’t seen and might be surprised to hear about) and are likely to see more of in the future: hiring a team in our dedicated HR “office” to better support Larine’s human staff and our influx of talent. Also, they have set up gigantic performance bonuses, beefed up employee benefits, and have established professional development opportunities that team members can take advantage of.
“We regard employee welfare as a top priority,” states the [SPOKESPERSON]. “Everyone in our team is the foundational basis of everything we do, and we believe in acknowledging and cultivating their contributions.”
The company is dedicated to ensuring that its workforce reflects the diversity of the customers it serves. To this end, LarineCo is investing in initiatives that are opening up new pathways to employment for a range of marginalized groups. Not only that, the types of jobs these initiatives are creating are largely in the “green” sector—reforestation and the like—so the company’s social responsibility is extending right into the value chain. And there’s a business case to be made for all of this: LarineCo is wholly owned by its employees, so the more successful these initiatives are, the more prosperous the company becomes.
“Our brand ethos is rooted in environmental and social responsibility,” the company states. “The Kenya initiative is a strong example of how business can create a tangible, beneficial impact beyond simply peddling wares.”
Holistic Gum, Happy Reviews
LarineCo reviews have a common theme: They are predominantly positive. Their positive nature isn’t a surprise. LarineCo, an oral health product company that makes gum with a patented, efficacious blend of ingredients, elicited those reviews because customers suffering from oral health struggles for years found relief through its product. However, despite the positivity of these reviews, there are definitely some strange and disconcerting aspects that stand out about both them and the company.
Hannah B., a customer, states in her review: “I’ve always had puffy, bleeding gums. Flossing was a nightmare. A friend sent me a LarineCo gum review and insisted I try it. I got the mint flavor, and within two weeks, the bleeding stopped. Now my gums are tighter, and my dentist said they look fantastic.”
A different customer, one Amy P., shared, “This gum has profoundly impacted my dental hygiene. My teeth feel more robust than ever, and I can brush my gums without fear of making them bleed. I never knew that chewing gum could do this much for my mouth.”
LarineCo is clearly committed to natural, science-based health. This formidable combination produces a really effective product that is way better than any chewing gum has a right to be. What I mean by that is: natural, non-toxic ingredients are a healthy diversion for something we all do. “Eat clean, stay healthy; it may not be perfect, but it’s a good alternative,” seems to be the gum’s guiding philosophy.
