Summary: | There has been significant growth in ecological/environmental labelling of
products and services internationally in recent years. Such efforts have become
an integral element of the marketing strategies used by many firms. Concerns
have been raised, however, that for some companies, this is little more than
‘greenwashing’, i.e. a cynical attempt to boost sales without any meaningful
underlying sensitivity or change, in practice. Given the extremely negative track
record of the global tobacco industry (Big Tobacco), it is essential that health policy
makers and anti-smoking campaigners closely monitor this industry’s attempts
to exploit both growing environmental concerns among consumers and gaps
in legislation. Although there is relatively strong legislation in some countries,
to prohibit suggestions that cigarettes may be environment friendly, a further
tightening of legislation is required.
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