Μ.Ι.ΜΑΙΛΛΗΣ ΜΟΝΟΠΡΟΣΩΠΗ Α.Ε.Β.Ε

Cigarette butts pose a significant and often overlooked threat to our environment and society. Unlike many other forms of waste, cigarette butts are not biodegradable, making them persistent pollutants in our ecosystems.

The aim of the initiative was for our company to inform its employees about the harmful effects of throwing cigarette butts on the environment and on humans and to raise their awareness of the collection and recycling of this waste.

The program is addressed to the company's employees as well as to external stakeholders (customers, partners, local community, regulatory authorities) and confirms the company's commitment to implementing actions aimed at protecting the environment and natural resources.

2 years up to now and the action continuous to be implemented. 

These tiny but lethal remnants contain a cocktail of toxic chemicals and non-biodegradable plastics, with destructive capabilities comparable to weapons of mass destruction. Despite their small size, cigarette butts disintegrate at an alarmingly slow rate, releasing toxins into the environment.

Even a single cigarette butt, when discarded irresponsibly, can contaminate up to five hundred liters of water, proving lethal to essential microorganisms in both freshwater and marine environments. Shockingly, cigarette butts make up a staggering 40% of the waste collected during beach clean-ups worldwide.

The collection of cigarette butts is carried out through the Cigaret Cycle gopafree program, where special bins were placed at selected points of the factory. The Special Bins for Cigarette Butt Collection was used, according to which the collection, emptying, cleaning of the bins once a month is carried out by the Cigaret Cycle employees, as well as the transport and delivery of the collected cigarette butts for recycling to their collection station. The company also undertakes the maintenance of the bins and their replacement, if necessary. A delivery certificate is issued, indicating the quantity in kilograms and approximately in pieces of the delivered wastes for recycling each time, and in total at the end of each year. The collected quantities of cigarette butts are declared annually in the Electronic Waste Registry of the Ministry of the Environment.

After collection at the Cigaret Cycle facilities, cigarette butts are processed, separating the paper and tobacco residues from the filters. The filters undergo a special detoxification process to create new recycled materials, while the rest is used to produce fertilizers.

All our company staff were informed about the importance of recycling cigarette butts so that all smokers use the special bins for their disposal.

The collection of cigarette butts is carried out through the gopafree program of the company Cigaret Cycle, which undertakes both the installation and maintenance of the collection bins at our facilities, as well as the emptying of the bins and the processing of the collected cigarette butts.

Colleagues from the Human Resources department helped us to decide the most suitable locations for placing the special collection bins in the factory facilities, such as outside the restaurant, the staff bus stop, etc.

Also, the participation of our colleagues from the environment department was essential in informing and training our employees about the harmful consequences of discarding cigarette butts in the environment and the ability to convert them into useful recyclable materials, through this specific action.

Steel strap production factory at Inofyta Viotias, Greece.

For the year 2024, the following have been collected:

4.12 kg of waste cigarette butts (16.480 pcs)

From the recycling of above quantity resulted:

• FERTILIZER 0.90 kg
• PLASTIC INDUSTRIAL RAW MATERIAL 2.90 kg

The benefit for the environment:

• Reduction of emissions into the environment by 26.50 kg CO2
• Reduction of emissions into the environment by 1.50 kg CH4
• 8240 m3 of fresh water saved from pollution
• Non-renewable energy saved by 642  MJ

Remarks

The values mentioned in (cigarette butts) are calculated with an algorithm with 98% accuracy in a quantity of 1 ton, based on weight, volume, with 26% humidity.MJ

The values referred to (purely produced materials from the recycling process) are calculated with an algorithm with an accuracy of 95% in a quantity of 1 ton, free from other waste except cigarette butts that may possibly be found in the special bins, as well as tar, nicotine, etc. removed from the filters.
The values of water saved from pollution are calculated based on the World Health Organization index.
CO2 and CO4 carbon values refer to the amount of gases that were not released into the environment from the diversion of the specific waste to landfills.
The values referred to in non-renewable energy KJ refer to the energy saved from the creation of new materials, based on the Global Warming Potential GWP co2-eq.

The collection and recycling of this waste gives our company the opportunity to communicate to external stakeholders (customers, partners, local community, regulatory authorities) our interest and sensitivity for environmental protection, circular economy and sustainable development.

In addition to strengthening our company's reputation towards stakeholders (customers, investors, etc.), it is important for our continuous development and achievement of our long-term goals to collaborate and employ personnel who are aware of environmental protection issues, circular economy and material recycling.