Philip Morris International (PMI) intends to completely switch to the use of renewable energy sources by 2025, with all the company's factories reaching zero CO2 emissions by 2030.
PMI’s goals of sustainable development include the reduction in plastic waste from the products of the company, including cigarettes, by 50% before 2025.
The strategic goal of the company is a smoke-free future. To this end, Philip Morris International has allocated significant financial and intellectual resources to the research and development of smokeless products, improvement of public health, and reduction of environmental affect over the past five years.
A significant part of the company's investment projects is aimed at the efficient use of water and energy resources, modernization of production centers, and development of "environmental" skills of its employees.
What is the company doing in Ukraine to minimize the impact on natural resources?
Efficient water consumption
In 2019, Philip Morris Ukraine invested about UAH 8.19 million towards the modernization of equipment and installation of new water drainage systems at the production center in Kharkiv. This made it possible to use storm water for industrial needs.
Also, the installed water reservoirs will help to reduce water consumption from the city systems by 30% and to reduce drainage by 25,000 cubic meters per year. In 2019, the water consumption per unit was 11.5% less than in 2018.
Improvement of the air quality
In 2019, a solid fuel combustion appliance fueled by sunflower husks was installed at the production center in Kharkiv. This technology made it possible to completely eliminate gas and switch to solid fuel. As a result, CO2 emissions were reduced by 11% in 2020 compared to 2018. To reduce CO2 emissions, Philip Morris Ukraine has implemented Ecodriving motivational program for employees - a system for safe driving and fuel economization. Due to the built-in program, engine idle time has been reduced by more than 20%.
The strategic goal of PMI, which was declared more than five years ago, is to create a smoke-free future. This goal can be achieved due to innovative smokeless products, towards which the company has invested over $8 billion in development over the past 10 years.
The combustion of cigarettes releases 7,000 dangerous and carcinogenic substances, which can cause oncological and cardiovascular diseases, among many others. Therefore, the company has been allocating its main investments towards the development and research of reduced risk products. Due to these efforts, 12.7 million smokers all over the world have abandoned cigarettes in favor of tobacco heating systems. The aerosol of such products contains up to 95% less harmful substances in comparison to cigarette smoke.*
*Important note: This does not mean a 95% risk reduction. The use of IQOS does not exclude all risks. "95% less" means the average reduction of the quantity of harmful chemicals (other than nicotine) in comparison to smoke of the traditional cigarette.
Waste management
Employees of the company take part in the World Cleaning Day campaign.
Up to 91% of industrial waste is reused at the enterprise in Kharkiv. The company reduces the amount of plastic consumed for household needs (plastic bags, disposable cups, plastic utensils, etc.). The near-term plans include the achievement of Zero Landfill (zero wastes sent to landfill).
Philip Morris International: Delivering a Smoke-Free Future
Philip Morris International (PMI) is leading a transformation in the tobacco industry to create a smoke-free future and ultimately replace cigarettes with smoke-free products to the benefit of adults who would otherwise continue to smoke, society, the company, and its shareholders. PMI is a leading international tobacco company engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes, as well as smoke-free products, associated electronic devices and accessories, and other nicotine-containing products in markets outside the U.S. In addition, PMI ships versions of its IQOS Platform 1 device and consumables to Altria Group, Inc. for sale under license in the U.S., where these products have received marketing authorizations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) pathway; the FDA has also authorized the marketing of a version of IQOS and its consumables as a modified risk tobacco product (MRTP), finding that an exposure modification order for these products is appropriate to promote the public health. PMI is building a future on a new category of smoke-free products that, while not risk-free, are a much better choice than continuing to smoke. Through multidisciplinary capabilities in product development, state-of-the-art facilities, and scientific substantiation, PMI aims to ensure that its smoke-free products meet adult consumer preferences and rigorous regulatory requirements. PMI’s smoke-free product portfolio includes heat-not-burn and nicotine-containing vapor products. As of Dec. 31, 2020, IQOS is available for sale in 64 markets in key cities or nationwide, and PMI estimates that approximately 12.7 million adults around the world have already switched to IQOS and stopped smoking. For more information, please visit www.pmi.com and www.pmiscience.com.
Philip Morris Ukraine PJSC and Philip Morris Sales and Distribution LLC are affiliated companies of Philip Morris International (PMI). Since 1994, PMI has invested over $698 million in the production and distribution of cigarettes and commercialization of lower risk products in Ukraine. In 2016, Ukraine became the seventh market where Philip Morris has launched IQOS, a breakthrough product based upon an innovative tobacco heating technology. The amount of taxes and fees paid by affiliates of PMI to the budgets of Ukraine of all levels amounted to UAH 23.5 billion in 2020. Both affiliates give jobs to about 1,300 people in Ukraine.
