World No Tobacco Day
World No Tobacco Day, observed each year on May 31st, is a global event that highlights the serious harm caused by tobacco use. Created in 1987 by the World Health Organization (WHO), the day was established to draw attention to the tobacco epidemic and to promote efforts that can help reduce tobacco use around the world. It serves as a powerful reminder that tobacco is not only a major threat to human health but also a serious environmental issue.
Tobacco use is one of the leading causes of preventable death and disease globally. It kills more than 8 million people each year, including non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke. But the impact of tobacco goes far beyond individual health. The entire cycle of tobacco—from farming to manufacturing to disposal—has harmful effects on the environment.
The production, distribution, and consumption of tobacco products contribute significantly to air pollution, carbon emissions, climate change, and deforestation. Every year, more than 600 million trees are cut down to make room for tobacco farming. This widespread deforestation weakens ecosystems, reduces biodiversity, and contributes to global warming. Tobacco is mostly grown in low- and middle-income countries, where land and water are desperately needed for growing food. Instead, valuable resources are used to grow tobacco, a crop that offers no nutritional value and poses serious health risks.
Tobacco farming also leads to soil degradation and water pollution due to the heavy use of harmful chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers. These substances can poison local water supplies and damage the health of farm workers and nearby communities.
The environmental damage doesn’t end with farming. Tobacco products themselves—such as cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and e-cigarettes—contribute to plastic pollution. Cigarette filters, which contain microplastics, are the second most common form of plastic waste in the world. They often end up in oceans, rivers, and streets, taking years to break down and harm wildlife.
E-cigarettes, which are sometimes seen as a more “eco-friendly” alternative, pose their own environmental challenges. They are made from various materials, including lithium-ion batteries, metal coils, plastic cartridges, and electronic circuits. These parts require energy-intensive mining and manufacturing. Improper disposal of these devices adds electronic waste to landfills and can contaminate soil and water.
World No Tobacco Day calls for action from individuals, communities, and governments. Reducing tobacco use can save lives, protect the planet, and conserve vital resources. By raising awareness, promoting tobacco-free policies, and supporting people who want to quit, we can move toward a healthier and more sustainable future for all.
How to celebrate:
- Share information about the environmental impact of tobacco cultivation, processing and waste
- Participate in clean-up efforts to remove cigarette butts and other tobacco waste from public spaces
- Advocate for policies that promote tobacco-free environments in public spaces,
- Support initiatives to reduce tobacco waste such as recycling programs for cigarette butts.
- Learn more about how tobacco contributes to deforestation and pollution, and support environmental groups working on reforestation and clean-up efforts.
- Work with schools or youth organizations to educate young people about the risks of smoking and vaping.
Fun Facts:
- France, Spain, and San Francisco in the USA have implemented “extended producer responsibility legislation,” which holds the tobacco industry responsible for clearing up the pollution it creates.
- Over 770 000 metric tons of cigarette butts make their way into the environment every year
- Over 150 million e-cigarettes are thrown away in the US every year
- Cigarette butts have comprised 30%-40% of items collected in annual coastal/urban cleanups since the 1980s.
- 2 million tonnes of cigarette packaging waste is generated every year
- 3.7 litres of water are needed to produce a single cigarette
#WorldNoTobaccoDay
