Greenwashing tobacco—attempts to eco-label a killer product

Abstract

The European Union currently prohibits the use of eco-labelling on tobacco products. Although “Big Tobacco” has overtly embraced Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), it would be naïve not to view this move as anything other than an attempt to hide a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The history of deceit and malpractice that typifies the global tobacco industry speaks for itself. Cigarettes are not simply another product. Tobacco-related illness kills one in two of its users. The global death toll from tobacco will soon be eight million annually. In light of these practitioners in the fields of life cycle assessment (LCA) and social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) should not cooperate with moves to “greenwash” this deadly product.