At the end of almost all cigarettes, is a filter made of cellulose acetate, a type of plastic. These filters are not biodegradable and will break up into microplastics and nanoplastics. Cigarette butts are by far the most common form of plastic pollution worldwide when measured by individual items, not by total mass.

Besides plastic the filters inject enormous amounts of toxic substances into our environment. The chemicals are proven to have negative effects on plants, animals and water quality. Cigarette filters are classified as hazardous waste, and leach chemicals like tar, nicotine, benzene, heavy metals, pesticides and acetate.

Cigarette filters are the most littered item in the world by number, making them the single most common form of (plastic) pollution globally. It is estimated that billions of filters end up in the environment every day. By design, a cigarette filter has a high probability of being disposed of on the streets and in nature. Up to two-thirds of all filtered cigarettes sold end up this way.

Even in an almost ideal world where 90% of cigarette filters would be binned, hundreds of billions would still end up in the environment annually. With over 100.000 cigarette filters thrown on the ground every second, two things are certain: education is not enough of a solution and cleaning up is impossible.

Cigarette filters do not reduce the health risks associated with smoking – in fact, they may worsen them. In the 1950s scientific research increasingly linked smoking to lung cancer and other serious health risks. When public anxiety grew, the cigarette companies faced pressure to address the health concerns, with the goal of making sure their sales weren’t reduced. Their solution? Plastic cigarette filters. The filters were marketed as a health-protective feature, however, research shows they increase health problems and are a direct harm to the environment. The filter is a prime example of a misleading marketing tool.

We couldn’t think of a reason not to want a ban on cigarette filters.