Photo by Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash
Smoking remains one of the major public health hazards of our time, with 8 million people dying from it every year and multiple economical and social implications.
For several decades, governments worldwide have tried to tackle this issue with taxation, advertising and public space restrictions and cessation programs. Yet, all of these measures seem to be a recipe for stagnation in many regions.
However, there is good news. Academic research, user experience and even success stories from certain nations are showing the impact Innovation Nicotine Products (INPs) can have for the decline of smoking rates and for health, sites Beatriz Santos.
A new position paper published by the We Are Innovation global network, titled “The Global Case for Nicotine Pouches,” sheds light on this specific product and its various advantages. The paper highlights four of them, hoping to demonstrate policymakers and smokers worldwide are a viable, responsible alternative.
1)They are way safer than cigarettes
Nicotine pouches are not a health product, but they are indeed safer than cigarettes. First of all, as a non-combustible product, pouches are already free from any combustion-related health risks. As stated by Mallock-Ohnesorg and others – “The combustion of tobacco and the inhalation of smoke is the primary cause of smoking-related diseases.”
Then, there are the dangers surrounding toxic constituents. A study measuring the number of harmful and potentially harmful constituents in cigarettes and nicotine pouches found only 5 potentially toxic substances in nicotine pouches against 84 in cigarettes. Another study accessing overall risk assigned pouches a risk score as low as 0.1, while cigarettes got a score of 100.
Finally, nicotine absorption through pouches takes more time than absorption through cigarette smoking, which contributes to reducing dependence and eventually quitting.
In conclusion, the evidence is out there: if smokers are given the opportunity to switch to nicotine pouches, that change can have a major positive impact on their health and make their lives longer.
2)They are better for the environment
Alongside its benefits for health, nicotine pouches are also more beneficial for the environment than cigarettes. Cigarette use keeps causing persistent pollution due to waste caused by smoke, butts, filters and residual pollutants. Nicotine pouches, on their side, do not produce this. As documented by an ONDS report, “Nicotine pouches leave no combustible waste and no plastic-filter litter.”
Furthermore, in comparison to other Innovative Nicotine Products (INPs) pouches remain the most environmentally-friendly option. Because of their technological simplicity, they generate no concerns regarding battery waste or heavy-metal disposal concerns. The fact they operate with simple materials gives them an environmental advantage when compared to electronic nicotine delivery systems, like heated tobacco products (HTPs) or vapes.
3)They are more socially acceptable
Another aspect to take into account when thinking about nicotine pouches is social harmony. Pouches are not associated with contexts that can be socially unpleasant such as smoke, smoke smell, stained teeth or secondhand effects. They are clean, enable respect for others and are less likely to provoke social judgement.
In fact, there are real life examples that demonstrate how social acceptability matters for nicotine pouch users. In Sweden, the smoking rate among women fell from 11.2 percent in 2015 to 5.7 percent in 2025, a decline that was much related to the introduction of nicotine pouches in 2016. Swedish women claim pouches make them finally feel in control, fitting perfectly into professional settings, family life, and public transit.
It should be noted, as well, that Sweden has recently achieved smoke-free status, meaning its smoking rate is currently below 5 percent – starkly contrasting with the EU’s current rate, of 24 percent. It is no coincidence. By embracing an approach that ensures the accessibility, affordability and accessibility of INPs – including pouches – Sweden is giving its citizens the power of choice with positive results on plain sight.
4)They are cost effective
Last but not least, it is important to highlight the impact nicotine pouches have on costs and infrastructures, which is minor when compared to cigarettes and fellow INPs.
When it comes to other INPs, Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) require high maintenance and waste management, NRTs need cold storage chains, pharmacy networks, and medical supervision and HTPs demand complex manufacturing and distribution. Nicotine pouches require no specialized storage or handling, which means a much lower economical burden. They are simple to produce, easy to manage and have much less logistical obstacles.
Moreover, the economic dimension of nicotine pouches’ health benefits has to be considered. Providing people safer alternatives to smoking surely has a significant impact on future costs for healthcare systems.
There are two particular sets of countries that could benefit from introducing an adequate framework for nicotine pouches – the EU and Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs).
Having Sweden as a member-State, the EU has the chance to learn from its example and accelerate its progress towards its goal of becoming smoke-free by 2040, a target that will be very hard to achieve with current policies, as the average smoking rate has been stagnating for the last few years.
As for LMICs, these countries, some of which have some of the highest smoking rates in the world, can have enormous health and economical gains if they start recognizing nicotine pouches as a safer option. Since many developing countries often face strong problems related to unstable electricity, lack infrastructure and poor distribution networks, pouches appear as the most viable INP to tackle smoking and its related illnesses.
The alternative already exists, is out there and helped Sweden Quit Smoking. Now, it is time for the rest of the world to do their homework and start working on responsible policies and save millions of lives every year.
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The Author, Beatriz Santos, is the Chief Communications Officer (CCO) at “We Are Innovation”.
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