Questions and Answers

“Our World Is Not an Ashtray” (WNA) is an online platform dedicated to raising awareness about the issue of cigarette butt littering and engaging adults around the world to take steps to reduce littering.

This website is a platform that shares facts and figures about cigarette butt litter, brings testimonials and inspirational stories of people and organizations who are tackling litter, and shares practical information and contacts on ways to get engaged.

The campaign has been developed and funded by Philip Morris International, and supports PMI’s litter reduction target, described in its Integrated Report 2021; and its anti-littering Policy. The WNA platform supports the company’s anti-littering campaigns worldwide. The website is maintained and will be further developed by PMI as the anti-littering community grows and expands its activities.

There is a widespread lack of understanding of the impacts of cigarette butts on the environment, and lack of understanding of what everyone can do to combat cigarette butt littering. The purpose of this platform is to raise awareness and engage consumers by providing facts about cigarette butt litter, showcasing inspirational stories, and encouraging the public to get involved in helping to tackle cigarette butt littering worldwide. The aim is to change global attitudes: Cigarette butt littering is and must be seen as socially and environmentally unacceptable.

Our World Is Not an Ashtray was launched in July 2020 because Philip Morris International wishes to raise awareness on this important issue. Since its launch, PMI has continued to address the issue of CBL by aiming to reduce cigarette butt littering by encouraging behavior change through impactful awareness-raising campaigns and empowering consumers to dispose of cigarette butts appropriately. They also intend to tackle the issue at the source, continuously working to replace the plastic in filters with better, more sustainable alternatives. Specifically, PMI applies a three pronged-approach: Design for circularity, Encourage behavioral change, Reduce litter on ground.

The problem of littering cuts across many industries and is too big to be solved by one entity alone, and all relevant stakeholders must join forces to make this world a better, cleaner, and greener place. That’s why PMI supports an increasing number of anti-littering organizations such as Litterati.

Anyone who shares this objective is welcome to join this effort with stories or suggestions and PMI will be happy to share them with the wider anti-littering community.

Find more information on PMI sustainability efforts here.

Please contact, contact@ourworldisnotanashtray.com with any questions.