Europäische Städte fordern ein EU-weites Verbot von Zigarettenfiltern

Brussels, Munich, Dublin and Genoa are among the city administrations joining the No (Plastic) Filter campaign, which is being driven by the Dutch government together with local municipalities, water authorities and environmental organizations. The plastic-based filters have no health benefits and are the single biggest cause of urban litter, according to the cities.

The municipalities argue that EU regulations on extended producer responsibility – rules that require tobacco companies to bear cleanup costs – have failed to curb pollution from cigarette filters, making a complete ban necessary.

Urban Pollution Crisis

Cigarette butts make up an incredible 30 percent of all litter in Brussels, according to Anas Ben Abdelmoumen, the city councilor responsible for public cleanliness. This litter not only defaces our cityscape but also places an enormous burden on our cleaning teams, he said.

In The Hague, the annual costs for removing cigarette butts amount to an estimated 2 million euros, according to Deputy Mayor Isabelle Broeders. From our perspective, the review of the tobacco products directive offers an important opportunity to ban cigarette filters, she stated.

Regulatory Opportunity

The campaign comes at a critical time as the EU is currently revising two key regulations that could lead to a ban on cigarette filters – or at least the plastic contained in them. The revision of the Tobacco Products Directive by the European Commission provides cities with an opportunity to ban cigarette filters, according to the campaign organizers.

Should this not succeed, the upcoming revision of the Single-Use Plastics Directive could offer a second chance by banning the plastic contained in the filters.

Industry Pushback

Tobacco companies, however, argue that filters do serve a health purpose. There is no safe cigarette, with or without filter, said Nathan Jones, Head of EU Regulatory Strategy at British American Tobacco. Studies show, however, that filters help reduce exposure to certain harmful substances and help us comply with EU regulations on cigarette emissions.

Most cigarette filters are made of cellulose acetate, a type of plant-based plastic that degrades slowly. While biodegradable alternatives exist, they are not yet widely used. Tobacco Europe has opposed the possibility of the Commission restricting plastic filters, hoping instead that the EU will focus on awareness campaigns, effective enforcement against littering, and proportional implementation of extended producer responsibility while promoting innovation for sustainable alternatives.

Health Concerns

The World Health Organization also advocates for a ban or gradual phase-out of filters, stating they provide no health benefits. The filter itself has no health benefit, said Yogi Hendlin, an environmental philosopher and public health scientist at Erasmus University Rotterdam. It has even been shown to increase the risk of lung cancer.

Hendlin referred to a landmark 2006 US court ruling that found tobacco companies had misled smokers by marketing light and low tar cigarettes as less harmful products. It's basically a cosmetic color change that tricks you into thinking you're safer than you actually are, he explained.