Philip Morris takes further steps towards a sustainable future with the CIRCLE program

At the end of 2018, there were 9.6 million users of IQOS worldwide, and this figure is projected to keep growing.

With this in mind, we plan to play our part in the circular economy. Our first steps are through an initiative known as CIRCLE (Central Inspection and Recycling for a Closed Loop Economy), a substantial investment by Philip Morris International into collecting and recycling used devices. Our ambition is that each device can be returned after use and recycled to the highest industry standards in every country where we market the product.

First, let’s take a look at the components of the device. The holder is made of a heating blade, powered by a battery and controlled by a printed circuit board, housed within a polymer casing. The charger consists of a battery and printed circuit board, inside a polymer casing. In the case of 3 MULTI, these elements are all in a single unit. If the device breaks, the consumer is able to return the device through retail stores or postal routes. Contact the customer service center for more information.

State-of-the-art electronic waste management

In 2018, we established two recycling hubs, or reverse logistics centers, in Europe and Asia, to ensure that device recycling is done to best practice standards. These hubs are state-of-the-art facilities run by specialist companies that meet our requirements for electronic waste processing. Once devices are received, our contracted partners first inspect the product, and then dismantle it into the various material types: plastics, printed circuit boards, batteries, and metals. The disassembly procedures go beyond industry standards, with more exhaustive material separation levels achieved.

To read more about Philip Morris International’s sustainability efforts, please visit PMIs sustainability page (information in English only).