What is the difference between “natural” and “synthetic” chewing gum base ingredients?

Among the many gum base ingredients that have been reviewed and authorized around the world are natural plant extracts such as chicle, synthetic polymers, waxes of natural and synthetic origin, and softening ingredients that are derived from plants and then modified. While the gum base in some chewing gum products may contain ingredients of natural origin, these ingredients should not be presumed to provide advantages in terms of safety, sustainability, or degradability and are available only in limited quantities.