726April 22, 2025, on the occasion of World Earth Day, Advocacy Center «Life», in partnership with the Network for the Protection of National Interests “ANTS,” held a press conference dedicated to the environmental threats posed by the tobacco industry. The event took place at the Ukraine Crisis Media Center with the participation of members of parliament, environmental experts, and public health specialists.
At all stages of its life cycle, tobacco pollutes the planet and harms human health. Annually, the tobacco industry leads to over 8 million premature deaths, the destruction of 600 million trees, 200,000 hectares of land, the consumption of 22 billion tons of water, and emissions of 84 million tons of CO₂.
The environmental consequences of the tobacco industry’s activities contradict several UN Sustainable Development Goals related to the environment: No. 6 Clean Water and Sanitation; No. 13 Climate Action; No. 14 Life Below Water; No. 15 Life on Land.
«Cigarette butts end up in all ecosystems and cause toxic damage to plants, animals, and humans. The consumption of tobacco and nicotine products steals the beauty of people and nature. It is our shared responsibility to stop this pollution and preserve the planet for present and future generations. Ukraine’s eco-costume won at the world competition. It is made of recycled plastic, namely from bottles. And if plastic can become a flower, then perhaps there is still hope?!», noted Yelyzaveta Adamska, Miss Eco Ukraine, 2nd Vice-Miss Eco International 2025; winner in the «People’s Choice» and «Best Eco Costume» nominations.
According to the State Tax Service, 37.1 billion cigarettes and cigarillos (30 billion units) and heated tobacco products (sticks) (7.1 billion units) were sold in Ukraine in 2024. This amounts to over 1,200 cigarette butts per resident, including newborns. The majority of these end up on the streets, in the soil, and in water bodies, leaving a toxic trace for decades.
«Ukraine should implement EU environmental standards as soon as possible, which includes disposal fees for producers of toxic single-use waste, including cigarette butts, and introduce mandatory labeling to inform consumers about the presence of plastic in the products, as is already the case in all EU countries. These European integration obligations will help preserve the environment and people’s health in Ukraine», emphasized Yuliia Ovchynnykova, member of the Ukrainian Parliament, member of the Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management.
In the European Union, such waste is classified as toxic single-use waste that is not recyclable. According to the Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EU) and the Directive on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment (2019/904/EU), producers are obliged to label tobacco products as single-use plastic waste and cover the costs of their disposal, including the establishment of a special collection infrastructure.
Globally, the tobacco industry produces about 4.5 trillion cigarette butts annually — toxic waste that is not recyclable. Cigarette filters are made of cellulose acetate (plastic), which decomposes for over 10 years, and contain toxic substances, including nicotine. The butts of some heated tobacco products contain metal elements that decompose over 100 to 1000 years.
«Cigarette butts are not just waste; they are the most common type of litter on the planet. They release toxic substances into the environment and break down into microplastics. Microplastics have already been detected in water, air, as well as in human organs and breast milk. Tobacco companies that produce these products must be held responsible for their disposal», noted Oleh Lystopad, environmental expert at the ANTS Network.
In addition to cigarette butts, the tobacco industry massively produces electronic smoking devices that contain plastic, batteries, or chemical cells. If these components enter the environment, they contaminate water and soil with heavy metals and chemicals. In the EU, manufacturers of electronic cigarettes must finance and promote the organization of collection and proper treatment of electronic cigarette waste in accordance with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (2012/19/EU).
Photo: UCMC
«The tobacco industry’s products kill about 100,000 Ukrainians annually, destroying the environment and causing additional harm to people’s health through cultivation, production, distribution, consumption, and waste pollution, including cigarette butts. Parliament and the Government must take urgent regulatory measures to reduce the epidemic of tobacco and nicotine product consumption, including the adoption of draft law No. 12091. The best solution right now would be to ban e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches», stated Dmytro Kupyra, Executive Director of the Advocacy Center «Life».
Draft Law No. 12091 provides for the prohibition of tobacco product displays at points of sale, flavored tobacco products, and the introduction of combined health warnings on heated tobacco products. Such measures will significantly reduce the prevalence of smoking in Ukraine and, accordingly, the amount of toxic waste.
For contact information: Olha Masna, Media Coordinator of Advocacy Center «Life», +380 73 089 65 70, olha.masna@center-life.org