Meet Astypalean, World's First Smokeless Island

Astepalea is the first island in the world to embrace the tobacco - free initiative. The Greek island has successfully developed a culture where people are encouraged to remove cigarette smoke from their lives.

The island received smoke - free culture certificates from TUB Austria, an independent certificate organisation. This organization appreciates their commitment to reduce smoking by applying and constantly improving a series of activities that encourage escape from cigarette, which remain the best option for the health of smokers, or switching to less harmful alternatives if they fail to abandon it entirely.

TUSV Austria carried out its independent Certificate Protocol in 2018. They conduct the checks needed to verify whether the requirements specified by the protocol are met and when auditing results in success, the organisation gives the certificate; providing an objective, impartial and fully documented assessment. Certificate is available for a number of organisations, including events, corporations and sites, such as states, cities, islands or destinations.

Philip Morris International, the initiative for a smokeless world, celebrates the arrival of the Greek island Astypalea. “We are proud to support this initiative and commend Astypalea for their efforts. We hope that other destinations worldwide will follow their example by embracing a smokeless culture,” said Frederick de Wilde, Regional President for the European Union in PMI.

The island embraced smokeless culture, adding it to their visual identity and the establishment of information boards at the airport, port, beaches and historical areas of windmills to inform locals and visitors. In addition to providing respect to the law against smoking, they provide information and support for adult smokers in quitting. For adults who choose to continue smoking, they offer information about less harmful new alternatives.

The best thing smokers can do is quit smoking and nicotine products entirely. Many, however, fail. Those adult smokers who choose to continue smoking must have information about less harmful alternatives to continue smoking, “added Frederick de Wilde.

Burning is what generates most of the harmful chemicals in smoke and associated with smoking - related diseases. Smokeless products are not free of risk and contain nicotine, which creates addiction, but they produce far lower levels of harmful chemicals than conventional cigarettes, and when produced according to adequate standards of quality and safety, they are a better choice for adult smokers than the continuation of traditional cigarette consumption.

With ambition to enable a smokeless future, Philip Morris International presented the concept of smoke - free destinations that, first, have successfully implemented the Certificate of smokeless culture and provide services and space to enable adult smokers who choose to continue smoking to learn about non-smoking products, such as IQOS, the product of IQOS. PMI that heats up and consumes these and other smokeless products in certain areas.