By Providence Ayanfeoluwa

The Chief Executive Officer of Philip Morris International’s, PMI Jacek Olczak, has attributed the primary cause of smoke-related health issues to high level of harmful chemicals released through cigarette combustion.

He added that over three decades of scientific research support this fact, saying that replacing combustible cigarettes with smoke-free alternatives is essential to achieving a smoke-free world.

Olczak made the attributions at the just concluded Smoke Free Future Technovation Summit, held in United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi.

Participants at the event were of the opinion that the push for a smoke free world is well guided by at least three decades of research which has shown that burning tobacco is what makes cigarettes harmful, and as well, smokeless tobacco products such as heat-not-burn, e-vapour and oral smokeless products among others are key towards saving people who are struggling to quit smoking.

They opined that quitting tobacco and nicotine have been identified to be key towards achieving better health outcomes for those who smoke, “many people across the world have continued to smoke and expose themselves to harmful chemicals through combustion tobacco, despite control activists warning against smoking”.

Olczak revealed the PMI’s goal to fully replace cigarettes with scientifically substantiated smoke-free products as soon as possible, even as he outlined the company’s vision of building a strong foundation in lifestyle, consumer wellness, and healthcare over the long term.

“PMI aims to completely replace cigarettes as soon as possible with smoke-free products that are scientifically substantiated to be less harmful than smoking. PMI is hopeful that in the long term, it will lay the foundation of a strong business in the areas of broader lifestyle consumer wellness and healthcare,” he said.

Also speaking, PMI’s Vice President for International Communications and Engagement, Tommaso Di Giovanni, said it is important to collaborate in replacing cigarettes with better alternatives, emphasizing that non-combustion options, such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, nicotine pouches, and Sweden’s snus, present a significantly lower risk profile.

He explained that the harmful effect of tobacco arises from combustion, in which removal of process leads to better alternatives for smokers.

Di Giovanni highlighted the importance of a balanced approach to public health, noting that minors and non- smokers should avoid using smoke-free products to minimize unintended consequences.

However, these alternatives could provide substantial health benefits for smokers who cannot quit. He called for a unified effort among governments, media, academia, and public health stakeholders to accelerate the transition away from cigarettes, emphasizing that consistent, accurate messaging to the public is vital.

“American inventor Thomas Edison once said the value of innovation lies in what we make of it And for us as a company, that means all of us, the media, governments, public health academia and society all need a consistent, accurate message to the public for change to happen much faster,” he said.