Cigarettes are commonly categorized as a health problem, but the effects of smoking on the environment pose a big problem as well. A cigarette's entire life cycle impacts the environment – from growing tobacco to throwing away the butt and beyond.

Does Smoking Contribute To Global Warming?

Tobacco growth and cultivation cause deforestation, as trees are often taken down to make space for tobacco plants. Once the plants have been harvested, they are "cured," which is usually done by air-drying or by burning wood to heat up the air. 

Research on cigarette pollution facts estimates that 600 million trees are chopped yearly to produce tobacco products. Cigarette-manufacturing machines take up to four miles of paper an hour to roll and pack the cigarettes.

How Hazardous Is It To Humans? 

The cultivation of tobacco is responsible for a myriad of environmental issues. It acts as a source of air pollution, and cigarettes also significantly affect air pollution while being smoked. One of the biggest cigarette pollution facts is that when cigarettes are burned, they create more than 7,000 chemicals--that's at least 69 of these chemicals known to cause cancer, and many are poisonous.

In addition to pollution during the cultivation process, tobacco products create a tremendous amount of waste after consumption. Cigarette butts are toxic as they pollute groundwater, which leaches chemicals into the soil. 

Tobacco and the effects of smoking on the environment are a violation of human rights, such as the right to clean air and water, as well. Many countries now include the right to a healthy environment in their Constitutions, and tobacco threatens that right.

Alternatives for Smoking When You Feel The Urge

When changing a habit, it can be easy to focus on the things you'll miss. Unfortunately, that only heightens the feelings of deprivation. Turn the tables on the way of thinking and concentrate on these alternatives that don't take much time or effort, making them great options whenever you feel the urge to toke.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting smoking. You can avail of it without a prescription, and it comes in a variety of forms:

• Patches
• Gum
• Oral sprays
• Inhalers
• Lozenges or tablets

You can avoid the toxic compounds found in cigarette smoke by taking modest and regulated quantities of nicotine into the bloodstream.

Snacking

Quitting smoking is not easy. However, you can distract yourself with snacks to keep yourself occupied and potentially reduce cravings. Examples include nuts, seeds, popcorn, pretzels, carrot sticks, and celery.

Chewing sugar-free gum

Cigarettes, for many smokers, are like pacifiers in that sometimes you are reaching for a cigarette to have something in your mouth. Chewing sugarless gum can help you satisfy that desire without the risk of harmful effects. 

Relieving stress

Yoga is a great way to relax and relieve stress, which can cause you to reach for a cigarette. Aromatherapy is also a great way to improve your mood and be active.

You can add some deep-breathing techniques, visualization, massage, or calming music to your aromatherapy to combat and overcome cravings and promote your well-being.

Final Thoughts

At Ripple+ HQ, we are fully committed to being as kind to the planet as possible, keeping our environmental impact to a minimum.