What are heated tobacco products (HTPs)?
HTPs represent one of Philip Morris International latest innovation of smoke-free
alternatives, which are a better alternative for adult smokers who do not want to quit
consuming nicotine products, as the greatest harm comes from the burning of tobacco
and resulting smoke and not from nicotine per se. HTPs are the best option for adult
smokers who choose to continue smoking.
Scientific facts
Experts and scientific studies agree that the main cause of harm from smoking lies in the
toxic chemicals found in conventional cigarette smoke, resulting from the burning
process of tobacco, which produces a complex combination of more than 6,000
chemicals.
“The Cube”, R&D and world scientists’ hub
To help creating a smoke-free future, PMI established “The Cube”, one of the world's
largest research centres for smoke-free HTPs and technology development in Neuchâtel,
Switzerland.
More than 930 scientists, experts, and engineers from more than 40 different
nationalities work in this facility, specializing in about 30 disciplines, including public
health, sciences, engineering, materials science, consumer electronics, clinical sciences,
and toxicology. They are all working on research and development of smoke-free heated
tobacco technology.
How does heated tobacco technology work?
The technology used in HTPs is a precision technology that aims to eliminate the burning
process that takes place in traditional cigarettes, which causes most smoking-related
diseases, and to replace it with heating of specially prepared and processed tobacco in
the form of small rolls reaching a temperature of 350°C. This is a temperature that heats
tobacco rather than burns it, reducing the proportion of harmful chemicals present
compared to conventional cigarette smoke by up to 95%.
Fire, ash and smoke
HTPs do not produce fire, ash or smoke but rather an aerosol that contains lower levels
of harmful chemicals found in conventional cigarette smoke, nor do they produce tar.
Cooling Technology
The cooling plug used in HTPs is made from corn plant-derived materials, which are
processed scientifically in the form of a biopolymer chip. Its main role is to cool the
aerosols resulting from the tobacco heating process and absorb any harmful substances.
It is developed in thin layers that creased in order to achieve gradual cool down.
Surrounding environment and air quality
These products are smoke-free, rely on heating instead of burning. They emit vapour
instead of smoke, therefore non-smokers are not affected by the so-called passive
smoking, nor do they adversely affect indoor air quality, and their vapour odour is much
less penetrating than that of a conventional tobacco cigarette.
Teeth and clothes
Unlike traditional cigarettes, HTPs do not discolour the teeth, nor leave an odour on
clothes.
Most popular around the world
There are more than 20 million users of HTPs worldwide, and about 15.3 million of them
have switched to IQOS and stopped smoking cigarettes.
Risks
Please note that HTPs are not risk-free and contain addictive nicotine. The best decision
any smoker can make is to quit tobacco and nicotine use altogether.
For more information about the science behind our products visit our website:
https://www.pmiscience.com/
This article is brought to you by Philip Morris Lebanon.
