Designing a smoke-free world

One of science and technology’s missions and aims is to work on a sustainable well-being, and to unlock the door for a better future. That’s why, Philip Morris International, the world’s leading tobacco company, has invested more than $6bn into the science and research in order to create a smoke-free world.

Millions of men and women smoke around the world. Some of them want to quit, others want a less harmful option, without giving up the pleasure. To address their needs and to serve society responsibly, PMI has developed breakthrough products that are smoke-free and enjoyable.

Burning vs heating tobacco

Before anything, you should know the difference between the two concepts, which PMI is trying to raise awareness on: burning tobacco with the traditional cigarettes, which is therefore called smoking, is totally different from the heating tobacco devices, such as IQOS, PMI’s flagship HnB (Heat not Burn) product, which eliminates combustion, that is basically caused when tobacco is burned while smoking a cigarette. Therefore, the heating tobacco device contains on average 95% less of harmful chemicals compared to the smoke of a burning cigarette. However, it does not necessarily equal a 95% reduction in risk as IQOS is not risk-free.

There’s a misconception about nicotine, which is thought to be the main cause of different smoking-related diseases. However, experts confirm that nicotine, while addictive, is not harmful as long as it is not burned; when a cigarette is burned, it produces, with other materials, thousands of chemicals causing diseases.

HnB Products for smoke-free future

Since 2008, PMI has been investing in fundamental, research, product development, scientific substantiation and manufacturing, to create smoke-free products; its goal is to significantly reduce or eliminate the formation of smoking cigarettes’ harmful chemicals. PMI also made sure to give their products the characteristic of cigarettes, so it would be easier for smokers to quit on burning tobacco, providing the same feeling and satisfaction while having an innovative design.

PMI’s flagship product is IQOS. This product is currently commercialized in 53 countries around the world. More than 15 Million smokers so far decided to use IQOS, of which 12 Million completely stopped smoking cigarettes. IQOS is an electrically heated tobacco device, that heats tobacco at a temperature of 350 degrees rather than burning it at a temperature of 800 degrees, thereby creating a nicotine-containing vapor with significantly less harmful toxicants compared to cigarette smoke. However, IQOS is not risk free.

Therefore, by providing smoke-free products which are less harmful than cigarettes, adult smokers may switch to a better option and quit on smoking harmful cigarettes. In this regard, a growing number of governments, (in the US, UK, EU) are now adopting these harm reduction measures by making electronic cigarettes available to reduce the number of tobacco users.

Most recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the marketing of IQOS, as a modified risk tobacco product (MRTP). In doing so, the agency found that an IQOS exposure modification order is appropriate to promote the public health. The agency concluded that the available scientific evidence demonstrates that IQOS is expected to benefit the health of the population as a whole.

Aside from Philip Morris International’s smoke-free future goals, it is keen on creating sustainable products that reduce the negative effects related to its products, operations and value chain.

This Article is brought to you by Philip Morris Lebanon.