L.T. Kozlowski, R.J. O’Connor, G.A. Giovino, et al. Maximum yields might improve public health—if filter vents were banned: A lesson from the history of vented filters, Tobacco Control, 2006, 15(3):262-266, doi:10.1136/tc.2006.016501/ The vast majority of supermarket chains have stopped selling plastic straws in favour of paper. Paper straws are rubbish compared to plastic and cost loads more, but the switch will reduce overall consumption and have a positive environmental impact so it’s a good thing. So why won’t these same shops switch to, or at least offer the choice of, biodegradable filters? Filter marketing slogans imply cleanliness and reduced risk through improved filtration, 26 hygiene, 27 ‘cleaner’ stubbing out, less smoke smell, and a smoother smoking experience. 28 With an estimated 5.6 trillion cigarette butts discarded every year, smoking has in more ways than one become one of the leading causes of environmental pollution in the world.

Cigarette filters are single-use plastic. Switch to Cigarette filters are single-use plastic. Switch to

We never though't there would be so much excitement around a cigarette filter but there you have it!

M. Quéméneur, S. Chifflet, F. Akrout, et al. Impact of cigarette butts on microbial diversity and dissolved trace metals in coastal marine sediment, Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 2020, 240:106785, doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2020.106785 Structural material formed of cellulose acetate, use thereof in producing filter tow, use of said filter tow in producing tabacco smoking filter element, said filter tow and said tabacco smoking filter element Smokey Treats is donating 1% of net-profits towards planting trees and food gardens in underprivileged communities around South Africa Original Assignee GREENBUTTS LLC Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.) 2010-03-31 Filing date 2011-03-24 Publication date 2012-12-20 2011-03-24 Application filed by GREENBUTTS LLC filed Critical GREENBUTTS LLC 2011-03-24 Priority to US13/581,851 priority Critical patent/US20120318286A1/en 2012-08-30 Assigned to GREENBUTTS LLC reassignment GREENBUTTS LLC ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: LISAUSKAS, TADAS, VAN OSTEN, XAVIER ALEXANDER 2012-12-20 Publication of US20120318286A1 publication Critical patent/US20120318286A1/en Status Abandoned legal-status Critical Current Links

filter fraud’ persists: the tobacco industry is still The ‘filter fraud’ persists: the tobacco industry is still

Industry research using standard smoking machine tests found that filter ventilation reduced the concentrations of tar and nicotine in the inhaled smoke, 13 as well as making cigarettes taste lighter and milder. 14 15 However, smoking machines do not precisely mirror real-life cigarette use in smokers. When their nicotine intake is reduced smokers typically engage in ‘compensatory smoking’; they take more frequent and deeper puffs to satisfy nicotine cravings, 16 17 and could cover the ventilation holes in the filters with their fingers. 18 19 Research on industry documents shows that Brown & Williamson, developer of the first major filtered cigarette, was aware of smokers’ practice of compensating for filter ventilation during the design process. 20 a b T.E. Novotny, E. Slaughter, Tobacco product waste: An environmental approach to reduce tobacco consumption, Current Environmental Health Reports, 2014, 1(3):208-16, doi:10.1007/s40572-014-0016-x A study recently identified several of these toxins which include nicotine have been found in water sources. They wanted to test the effects cigarette butts were having on marine life. The tobacco industry’s primary motive is to rehabilitate its reputation. 71 Partnerships between public health and environmental advocates could increase pressure on tobacco companies to take responsibility for the environmental and health harms of cigarette filters, 71 72 and increase support for regulation. 73 TobaccoTactics Resources We are, of course, very proud of this group of students with their first paper. This is certainly a first for our Faculty of Science," she concludes.

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Whatever their direct health impact on or benefit to smokers, cigarette filters pose a serious litter and toxic waste disposal problem. Cellulose acetate is photodegradable but not bio-degradable. Although ultraviolet rays from the sun will eventually break the filter into smaller pieces under ideal environmental conditions, the source material never disappears; it essentially becomes diluted in water or soil [ 10, 11]. Karma Tips was created by ex-advertising representatives Chetana and Ved Roy of Bengaluru, India.Ved first got the idea for Karma Tips when he was working with a tobacco company and he learned about the list of chemicals found in commercial cigarette papers.The couple, who has worked for dozens of corporate giants in the past, quit their jobs so they could pursue creating low-impact cigarette materials. A24D3/08— Use of materials for tobacco smoke filters of organic materials as carrier or major constituent J. Torkashvand, M. Farzadkia, H.R. Sobhi, A. Esrafili, Littered cigarette butt as a well-known hazardous waste: A comprehensive systematic review, Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2020, 383:121242, doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121242

Essentra Launches Biodegradable Filters – Tobacco Reporter

Now a group of third year microbiology students from Stellenbosch University (SU) have determined that even so-called environmentally-friendly biodegradable cigarettes can have unintended consequences. Second, adoption of these policies would mean no longer allowing the industry to externalize the costs of the cleanup of butt litter. The current industry approach (as with its historical approach to the direct health consequences of smoking) is basically to ‘blame the victim’. In this context, the smoker is the litterer and thus it is his or her responsibility to take care of the butt disposal. However, it is clear that municipalities, businesses, states, voluntary groups, and other external bodies bear the brunt of most butt waste cleanup costs. Machine translation of JP 08-266260 A, Japan Patent Office, [online], retrieved from the Internet, [retrieved 3/18/2015], URL: http://dossier1.ipdl.inpit.go.jp/AIPN/odse_top_dn.ipdl?N0000=7400>. *G.N. Connolly, H.R. Alpert, Has the tobacco industry evaded the FDA’s ban on ‘light’ cigarette descriptors? Tobacco Control, 2014, 23(2):140-5, doi:10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2012-050746 Cigarettes and Cigarette Filters Collected in the United States in the International Coastal Cleanup, 1996–2007. Source: Ocean Conservancy 2007.

Swan Extra Slim ECO Biodegradable Filter Tips – Single Pack Swan Extra Slim ECO Biodegradable Filter Tips – Single Pack

QTBSBXVTEAMEQO-UHFFFAOYSA-M acetate Chemical compound CC([O-])=O QTBSBXVTEAMEQO-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 claims description 18M.E. Johnston Jr/Philip Morris, Market potential of a health cigarette: Special report no. 248, June 1966:16, Truth Tobacco Documents Library, Bates No. 1000338663 I’m sure at some point in your life, you’ve looked at cigarette filters on the floor and wondered what they’re made from. It might look like harmless white cotton, but it’s not. Woodlands craft cigarettes launched a few days before Christmas 2018. Since then they’ve grown to supply over 225 stores in the Western Cape – and have just launched in their first Johannesburg store (Wesley’s Tobacconist in Rosebank Mall) A24D3/10— Use of materials for tobacco smoke filters of organic materials as carrier or major constituent of cellulose or cellulose derivatives