By Tomoyasu Hirano On 9 March 2026, the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) announced the names of companies certified as ‘Excellent KENKO Investment for Health (KIH) Corporations’ for the 2026 financial year. KIH is an initiative launched in 2017, developed using the ‘Healthy Company’ concept and the ‘Corporate Health Achievement Award Winners’ […]
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Four Butts per Square Meter: Holding the Tobacco Industry Accountable for Waste in Indonesia
By Effie Herdi & Mouhamad Bigwanto n Indonesia, the tobacco crisis is no longer confined to a public health emergency; it has become a visible and pervasive environmental disaster. Cigarette butts are not harmless organic waste; they are made of cellulose acetate, a type of plastic that takes up to a decade to decompose. As […]
Independent research refutes industry arguments on tobacco taxes and illicit trade in the Philippines
By Pia Rodrigo The Philippines has successfully raised tobacco tax rates to lower smoking prevalence and fund universal healthcare through three transformative laws passed between 2012 and 2020, establishing itself as a global leader in health tax policy. Tobacco industry lobbying and misinformation now put the Philippines at risk of reversing this progress. Recently, the […]
The Five Truths of Tobacco for Africa: Tobacco a development trap
Robert Mwale & Leonce Sessou, Tobacco has shaped the economies of Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe for decades. Together, these countries sometimes referred to as “T5”, produced more than US$2.8 billion in tobacco export earnings in 2024, with Zimbabwe alone accounting for nearly half of this value. This could be seen as an economic […]
Finishing last in protecting young fans: F1’s six decades of driving addiction
Jorge Alday A small child in a red Ferrari suit advertising Zyn at the Japanese Grand Prix in late March should be a wake-up call for anyone not yet attuned to the dangers of tobacco sponsorship in Formula 1. This follows the December 2025 announcement extending Philip Morris International (PMI)’s sponsorship of the Ferrari Formula […]
Tobacco Industry Ties Exposed in Swiss Universities
Michela Canevascini, Pascal Diethelm & Sophie Lonchampt A recent investigation by the Swiss Transparency and Truth initiative, led by OxySuisse, reveals widespread collaborations between tobacco companies and Swiss universities. The report documents 29 partnerships involving 16 academic institutions between 2019 and 2024. These findings raise important concerns. The tobacco industry uses scientific collaborations to gain […]
Smyle Labs’ Focus on ‘Discreet’ and ‘Novelty’ Products Requires Regulatory Action
George Pearson, Megan C. Diaz & Jennifer M. Kreslake Based out of California, Smyle Labs is a producer of atomizers, batteries, cartomizers, clearomisers and empty tank systems. While, officially describing itself as a “trendsetter in the aromatherapy accessories industry,” it is clear that Smyle Labs produces products intended for cannabis and nicotine users looking for […]
Unmasking Tobacco Industry’s Corporate Social Responsibility in Oman
Ruth Mabry & Jawad A. Al-Lawati The 2026 World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) theme calls for stronger policies to protect youth and targets the marketing of e-cigarettes and similar products as innovative or less harmful aimed at attracting new users, particularly young people. With stricter bans on tobacco advertising, the tobacco industry reverts to corporate social […]
Making Tobacco Endgame Inevitable: how the narratives we use influence the normalization of tobacco elimination
Eline Goethals, Chris Bostic & Megan Manning The evidence for the tobacco endgame is there. The policies exist, and the public is ready. On average, 72% of people across countries support phasing out commercial cigarette sales. In the Netherlands, 63% of young people agree the tobacco and vape industry should not exist. Jurisdictions in the […]
Bangladesh’s Tobacco Control Law Amendment 2025: A Bold Step for Public Health
Md. Hasan Shahriar, Md. Mehedi Hasan, Md. Shahedul Alam & ABM Zubair. Bangladesh’s Tobacco Control Law Amendment 2025: A Bold Step for Public Health Bangladesh remains among the countries most heavily burdened by tobacco use, with more than one-third of adults consuming tobacco and an estimated 130,000 tobacco-attributable deaths each year. The resulting health, environmental, […]