The Environmental Impact of Hand-Rolled Tobacco vs. Manufactured Cigarettes

Manufactured cigarettes have a seriously negative impact on the environment. Learn more about their impact and why hand-rolled tobacco is a greener option.

The production and consumption of manufactured cigarettes have significant consequences for the environment in the UK and around the world. From carbon emissions to water pollution, the cigarette manufacturing industry and many smokers who support it continue to contribute to the degradation of the planet.

With growing awareness of the impact of purchasing choices, an increasing number of smokers are looking for ways to make their habit more sustainable and eco-friendly. This is where hand-rolling tobacco can help.

Environmental Impact of Manufactured Cigarettes

Manufactured cigarettes leave a large environmental footprint. Cigarette manufacturers use four miles (more than 6km) of paper every hour to wrap and package cigarettes and other products, contributing to deforestation and more than two million tons of packaging waste every year. The cigarette manufacturing industry also generates more than 84 megatons of CO2 emissions yearly, equivalent to one-fifth of the airline industry’s CO2 emissions.

An estimated 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are discarded every year around the world, while in the UK, cigarette butts negatively impact the environment in various ways. Cigarette butts contain a mix of toxic chemicals such as nicotine, pesticides, heavy metals, and other harmful substances. These chemicals can leach into soil and water bodies, where they pose risks to soil organisms and aquatic life and potentially could enter drinking water supplies.

Made of cellulose acetate, the filters in discarded cigarette butts also contribute to microplastic pollution and put wildlife, soil organisms, and aquatic life at risk. The microplastics from cigarette butts potentially can enter the food chain via contaminated seafood and drinking water, which could expose people to health risks. Cigarette butt litter also diminishes the quality of life and cultural heritage of various communities.

Hand-Rolled Tobacco: A Greener Option

Hand-rolled tobacco is a greener option than manufactured cigarettes for a variety of reasons. You can purchase locally grown and/or organic tobacco, which can help reduce the CO2 footprint and assure you that no pesticides or other harmful chemicals were used during the cultivation and curing processes.

While the cigarette manufacturing industry’s machines use a significant amount of electricity, rolling your own cigarettes by hand or with a manual rolling machine does not. When it comes to rolling papers, you can find natural organic papers, hemp, bamboo, and other more sustainable options at Black Swan Shoppe.

Hand-rolling your own cigarettes also offers greener options for filters. If you don’t want to stop using filters altogether, you can opt for reusable filters, biodegradable filters, carbon/charcoal filters, natural fibre filters, or hemp-coated roach material filters.

Sustainable hand-rolling options are the way to go if you’re a smoker who cares about the environment.