Environmental Initiatives

We are committed to reducing the environmental footprint of our operations. 

We have evaluated our environmental impact—from buying tobacco leaf to manufacturing tobacco products to running our various offices around the world—and we are taking steps to reduce it. We have defined environmental objectives that are aggressive yet realistic and, by implementing a series of concrete programs, we are achieving them.

Reducing Energy and CO₂

Between 2005 and 2010, we reduced our energy consumption by 12% per cigarette produced.   One significant example of our energy and CO₂ reduction was our Swiss factory in Neuchâtel. By optimizing heating, ventilation and cooling systems, the factory reduced its energy consumption by 30% between 2005 and 2010.  In Lausanne, Switzerland we reduced the carbon footprint of our main operating center offices by 44% between 2008 and 2010 by optimizing the use of lake water and heat pumps for our heating, ventilation and cooling systems. 

We have targeted a 30% reduction in our carbon footprint by 2020 across our entire value chain.

We submitted to the Carbon Disclosure Project for the first time in 2010 and were included in the Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index.  We were rated #1 in the tobacco sector.  For the full reports, please refer to the CDP website .

Reducing Water Consumption

We follow the 3R concept—Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle—for both water and waste, with strong results. From 2005 to 2010, we reduced the volume of water used per million cigarettes by 12% throughout all our factories. In Australia, for example, our affiliate consumed 60% less water in 2010 than in 2005 through accurate monitoring and innovative practices.

We were one of the first companies to disclose our Water footprint in the Water - Carbon Disclosure Project  where we were quoted with respect to best practices taken: 

“Ensuring actions go beyond compliance standards, and working towards maximizing water performance rather than adhering to the legal minimum, for example Philip Morris International…”

Reducing and Recycling Waste

We reduced our waste by 7% per cigarette produced between 2005 and 2010 and simultaneously improved recycling to approximately 80% of our factory waste. One outstanding example is our Turkish facility, which implemented a series of measures to minimize waste generation and disposal.  The factory achieved a recycling rate of more than 97% in 2010 (a 20% increase compared to 2005) and at the same time reduced the waste quantities per cigarette produced by 25%.

Meeting International Standards

By the end of 2010, Philip Morris International had achieved external certification to ISO 14001* and OHSAS18001* for 26 of our manufacturing centers; this is a continual program as new factories are integrated into PMI.

* These are international standards for occupational health and safety (OHSAS 18001) and environmental (ISO 14001) management systems.