Authorities in several major European cities, including Brussels, Munich, Dublin, and Genoa, have proposed a ban on the sale of filter cigarettes throughout the European Union. The reason is widespread environmental pollution from plastic cigarette butts and the significant costs municipalities incur to clean the streets, according to a November 12, 2026, article by Politico.
The cities have joined the international “No (Plastic) Filter” campaign, which is supported by the Dutch government, the municipality of The Hague, environmental organizations, and water management agencies. The initiative’s participants aim to secure a complete ban on cigarette filters or, at the very least, on the use of plastic in their production.
According to Politico, cigarette butts are one of the biggest sources of urban pollution. In Brussels, they account for about 30% of street litter, and The Hague’s authorities spend approximately 2 million euros annually on cleaning up discarded cigarette filters.
Most filters are made of cellulose acetate—a type of plastic that decomposes extremely slowly. When discarded into the environment, cigarette butts become a source of microplastics and toxic substances that pollute soil and water bodies.
Representatives of environmental organizations also note that cigarette filters do not provide a proven reduction in the harm caused by smoking, although they may give consumers the opposite impression. The World Health Organization (WHO) shares this position and supports restrictions on the use of plastic filters.
According to WHO estimates, the annual global costs associated with cleaning up and managing tobacco waste amount to $26 billion. The proponents of the ban hope to achieve changes during the revision of two European legislative acts. The first is the Tobacco Products Directive, amendments to which could potentially allow for a complete ban on cigarette filters regardless of the material used in their manufacture. The second is the Single-Use Plastics Directive, which could provide a basis for restricting the use of cellulose acetate.
At the same time, current EU legislation already requires manufacturers of tobacco products with plastic filters to contribute to the funding of cleanup efforts for such waste. These requirements are contained in EU Directive 2019/904, adopted in June 2019. Participants in the new campaign believe that the existing extended producer responsibility system has not resulted in a sufficient reduction in pollution.
Tobacco companies oppose a complete ban on filters. Industry representatives argue that filters can reduce the levels of certain components in tobacco smoke and are necessary to meet technical product requirements.
Nathan Jones, a representative of British American Tobacco, told Politico that manufacturers currently have no effective alternative to existing filters suitable for mass industrial production.
For their part, authorities in The Hague are insisting on a complete ban on filters regardless of the material from which they are made. In their view, replacing cellulose acetate with other materials will not solve the problem of environmental pollution.
A final decision on banning filtered cigarettes in the European Union has not yet been made. Introducing such restrictions will require drafting legislative changes and coordinating them at the EU institutional level.
Currently, European legislation requires mandatory labeling of tobacco products with plastic filters, informing consumers about the environmental harm caused by cigarette butts, and requiring manufacturers to contribute to the costs of waste cleanup. A possible expansion of these requirements—up to a complete ban on filters—could significantly impact the European tobacco market and require changes in cigarette manufacturing technologies.
Sources: European Commission, regulation of single-use plastics; EU Directive 2019/904.
BAN, CIGARETTE, ENVIRONMENT, EUROPEAN UNION, PLASTIC, TOBACCO
Plastic production in Europe in 2023 decreased by 8.3%, according to the industry organization Plastics Europe. According to its managing director, Virginia Janssens, the decline was stronger than expected.
At the same time, global plastic production grew by 3.4%, in particular due to the scale-up of production in China and the United States. According to S&P Global, China accounted for 60% of the growth in petrochemical capacity last year.
The share of European suppliers in the global market will decline to 12% in 2023 from 28% in 2006. In addition, due to declining demand, the volume of mechanical plastic recycling in Europe last year fell for the first time since 2018, Plastics Europe noted. This is the most common recycling method in the region.
In October, the industry organization Plastics Recyclers Europe pointed out the alarming nature of the downward trend in the European plastic recycling market, which is why many companies are leaving it. Among other things, the market is under pressure from an oversupply of virgin plastic outside Europe.
Businesses are also dissatisfied with European legislation aimed at achieving ambitious climate goals. According to the companies, it is “stifling growth,” the FT writes. American ExxonMobil (SPB: XOM) and Saudi Arabia’s SABIC this year announced their intention to close petrochemical plants in Europe. LyondellBasell, Versalis, and Trinseo are also going to close their sites or revise their plans for them.
A bill on limiting the use of disposable plastic products may be registered at the Verkhovna Rada in October, Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Roman Abramovsky has said.
According to him, the bill provides for a year after its adoption, a ban on production, import and sale of a number of disposable plastic goods in Ukraine, which are proposed to be replaced with similar ones made from alternative harmless materials, including corn starch.
“From such materials, practically without changing the technology, you can make the same products as from plastic. There will be no big problems for re-equipment of production. We are constantly in contact with business and manufacturers, and most confirm that significant transformations will not be needed […] We came to the conclusion that it is inexpensive, 10-15% of capital investments,” the minister said during a press breakfast in Kyiv on Wednesday.
The bill proposes to limit the use of plastic disposable tableware, cutlery, straws, food containers, lids for drinks containers, sanitary cotton swabs, plastic base-holders for balloons and other products made from polystyrene and oxo-biodegradable plastic.
In addition, special labeling is provided for goods that do not fall under the restrictions (wet wipes, feminine hygiene products, diapers, cigarettes with filters).
At the same time, manufacturers of such products are subject to extended liability, in particular, they will be required to recycle a certain share of the plastic produced.
“The discussion about liability is still ongoing, although the bill is already ready for registration. This is a difficult issue, since excessive liability is associated with corruption risks. Today, the following figures are proposed: the primary fine for the provision of prohibited products on the market is from UAH 18,000 to UAH 51,000, repeated violation within one year – from UAH 85,000 to UAH 175,000,” Abramovsky said.
At the same time, the minister noted the lack of statistical information on production of plastic products in Ukraine.
