Can you imagine a world without cigarettes?
Here at Philip Morris International (PMI), we can, and we’re committed to making this vision a reality.
In 2014, after many years of research and development, we launched our first smoke-free product in Nagoya, Japan and Milan, Italy. These pilots were a key milestone in what will later on become PMI’s transformation, and marked the beginning of a path toward a smoke-free future.
To celebrate the eighth anniversary of the launch of our first smoke-free product, Stefano Volpetti reflects on our first eight years of innovation in the area of smoke-free alternatives, and shares insights into our past, present, and future ambitions.
Stefano Volpetti
President, Smoke-Free Inhaled Products & Chief Consumer Officer, PMI
While the best choice any adult smoker can make is to quit tobacco and nicotine altogether, for those who don’t, scientifically substantiated smoke-free alternatives offer a better choice than continued smoking. These products are not risk-free, and contain nicotine, which is addictive.
At PMI, we are building our future on smoke-free products. And the signs are good. Independently audited figures reveal a steady reduction in our shipment volumes of cigarettes, alongside a steady rise in our shipment volumes of heated tobacco units.
“A smoke-free world is a real possibility, not just a far-fetched dream,” said Stefano Volpetti, President, Smoke-Free Inhaled Products & Chief Consumer Officer.
“It could become a reality if we leverage the power of innovation and of science-based, smoke-free products. There are still an estimated 1 billion smokers on the planet, and we all know somebody who has been smoking for many years, and despite
the known health risks, hasn’t quit. It is for these people that smoke-free products can play an important role.”
PMI is steering a visionary course, developing a portfolio of products, and laying the foundations necessary to achieve the public health milestone of a smoke-free future.
