Apr 25, 2019

According to the World Health Organization -WHO- every year, seven million people die from causes related to environmental pollution outdoors and in domestic spaces. Keeping in mind that environmental contamination is the biggest challenge for world public health, many industries have opted for smoke-free production processes and products.

It seems incredible that someone dies for contaminated air, but United Nations -UN- Health Agency explains that fine particles of pollutions penetrate the cardiovascular system and lungs, causing deadly diseases such as heart attacks, strokes respiratory infections, etc.

The reduction of burning fuels emissions would allow limiting important sources of air pollution and will reduce the number of deaths related to this factor. That’s why many industries have put the 'sustainability t-shirt' on, adopting cleaner processes in their productions and their products. We will show you some success cases below:

Transport

Vehicles are a major source of toxic emissions as they work using fuels. Some companies have investigated and found more friendly and proenvironmental alternatives. Mercedez Benz has created Pamplonica: a bus driven by biomethane, a fuel that comes from the biogas refinement process released from the fermentation of wastewater. This bus produces less contamination and reduces organic waste.

Industry

According to International Gas Union -IGU- the world’s natural gas for the industry demand will increase up to 45% among 2015 and 2035, as fuel is recognized as an alternative that can provide economic and ecological benefits,

In the industrial and petrochemical sector, natural gas can be used as fuel or raw material, replacing diesel, liquefied petroleum gas, coal and firewood that produce more polluting agents. In the food industry, natural gas is used in cooking and drying processes and in the textile industry it replaces the heating system, achieving energy saving levels between 20% and 30%.

Home

Indoor smoke causes around one million deaths every year, according to WHO. 3.000 million people are at risk around the world, as they use fuels in their homes to cook food or heat their spaces. It is necessary to reduce domestic emissions derived from energy systems based on coal and biomass and the incineration of agricultural waste, such as in the production of charcoal.

 

A study published by ‘American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine’ found that pregnant women who replaced traditional fuels such as firewood were three times less likely to develop high blood pressure. According to the World Bank, the problem is that there are currently 2.8 billion people on the planet who cook with solid fuels.

Fortunately, there are other alternatives, stoves with pellets that are small pieces of pressed sawdust with high calorific power that leaves almost no residue. These stoves can be used in homes, offices and commercial places at a very low cost and with great environmental benefits.

Tobacco industry

Phillip Morris International (PMI) joined the Smoke-Free movement by developing an entire portfolio of smoke-free products. This portfolio consists of four platforms that deliver nicotine, but without involving combustion and smoke. One of these platforms is IQOS, a device that works with HeatControl ™ technology and heats tobacco instead of burning it, allowing users to enjoy tobacco, without smoke, ash and less odor in clothes, hair, and hands.

Now, more than 6.6 million people have switched cigarettes to this smokeless alternative, a change that undoubtedly represents benefits for the smoker's interpersonal relationships. To learn more about this device, go to https://co.iqos.com

 

*Content developed by Coltabaco S.A.S.