According to Onegreenplanet, the tobacco industry is causing a series of problems, including impacts on human health. However, what is often overlooked is its impact on the environment. From ocean pollution to landfill plant contributions, cigarettes and their by-products are causing damage to the environment.
Here’s a look at the ways cigarettes damage the environment.
Making cigarette filters requires large amounts of plastic, a process that consumes fossil fuels and produces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.
Cigarette butts are not biodegradable and take ten years to decompose. If not handled properly, they can end up in water bodies, releasing toxic chemicals and microplastics that endanger marine life.
Every year, the tobacco industry produces trillions of cigarettes, resulting in massive amounts of plastic waste. These discarded cigarette boxes and other plastic tobacco packaging materials contribute significantly to the accumulation of garbage in landfills and release harmless greenhouse gases.
Cigarette boxes are often packaged in plastic film, increasing the industry’s plastic consumption. The amount of plastic waste generated every day from packaging alone is huge.
Lighters, matches and other smoking accessories associated with tobacco consumption are often made of plastic. These items are often used once and then thrown away, adding to the growing plastic pollution crisis.
Cigarette filters made primarily from a type of plastic called cellulose acetate. Approximately 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are discarded globally every year, making them the most common form of waste on the planet.
Cigarette filters break down over time, releasing microplastics into the environment. These microplastics often end up contaminating soil, water and even air, posing risks to ecosystems and human health.
The tobacco industry has been criticized for its inappropriate waste management practices, leading to plastic pollution. Improper disposal, lack of recycling programs, and poor product stewardship all add to the industry’s negative impact on the environment.
Tobacco cultivation often requires large areas of land, leading to deforestation in some areas. The destruction of forests causes a loss of biodiversity and releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, making climate change more severe.
Tobacco tycoons have financial interests in the plastics industry, and many tobacco companies also produce plastic products. This association creates a conflict of interest that impedes significant progress in reducing plastic waste and environmental harm.
City News reports that when it comes to the environmental impact, the tobacco industry’s plastic problem is having a significant impact on our planet. It should be recognized that solving this problem requires collective action. Governments, organizations and individuals must hold Big Tobacco accountable for their environmental impact, push for more sustainable packaging alternatives and strict tobacco-related waste regulations. In addition, consumers are also choosing sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives, or the need to curb smoking once and for all, reducing the need for these harmful products, both play a key role.
