Filter the Future

I’m leading an alliance of environmental advocates, scientists, and public health experts committed to tackling the pervasive issue of cigarette butt (CB) pollution in Europe. Our mission is to protect oceans, ecosystems, littorals, public spaces and freshwater from the harmful impacts of cigarette waste.

Today, cigarette butts are the most commonly littered items worldwide, surpassing plastic and polystyrene on European beaches. Each year, 1.3 billion smokers worldwide consume 6 trillion cigarettes, of which 4.5 trillion are littered, contaminating oceans, freshwater systems, soils, and wildlife habitats by releasing thousands of toxic chemicals. However, social studies reveal that improper disposal of cigarette butts can be addressed through behavior-focused interventions, such as targeted warnings and educational campaigns.

The ongoing revision of the European Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) (2014/40/EU) presents a critical opportunity to address this issue: we are seizing this opportunity to call for adding eco-toxicity warnings on individual cigarettes and cigarette packs to act against littering — in the same way health messages have already been embedded for years.