Smoke Signals

Promoting smoke-free university environments is a global priority in the fight against tobacco use, helping to create healthier and more sustainable campuses. Universities play a key role in educating future generations and in implementing public health policies. A smoke-free campus protects the health of students, staff and visitors, while also representing a concrete step towards sustainability and well-being. By embracing the principles of the 2030 Agenda, a smoke-free university environment contributes to achieving key health and environmental goals.

Adopting a completely smoke-free university environment — including electronic cigarettes and vaping devices — contributes to the achievement of crucial Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In particular:

• Goal 13 (Climate Action): by reducing CO₂ emissions and waste generated by cigarette butts.
• Goal 14 (Life Below Water) and Goal 15 (Life on Land): by preventing soil and water pollution caused by cigarette butts, which harm terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
• Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being): by creating designated smoking areas without compromising the health of non-smokers.

Actions for a healthier and more sustainable university environment

• Limiting smoking areas: through the “Smoke Signals” campaign, smoking areas will be progressively reduced and relocated to designated spaces, away from main pathways and common areas, in order to protect non-smokers and promote a safe environment for the entire University community.
• Compliance with current regulations: the campaign reinforces compliance with the Sirchia Law (Law no. 3/2003), a cornerstone of this initiative, by prohibiting smoking in the perimeter areas of university buildings, including entrances.
• Environmental awareness: the campaign also addresses the habit of discarding cigarette butts on the ground. Initiatives are being developed to enable the recycling of cigarette butts into eco-sustainable materials, helping to reduce environmental pollution.

The pilot project of the “Smoke Signals” campaign at the Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry

The Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry (DCCI) at the University of Pisa is leading the pilot phase of the “Smoke Signals” campaign. The Department has already implemented a strict no-smoking, which includes e-cigarettes and vaping devices, in the outdoor areas surrounding its buildings.
In collaboration with the University Sustainable Development Committee (CoSA), the DCCI will be the first to establish a designated smoking area and a cigarette butt recycling service, thanks to a commercial partnership with Human Maple. The company has developed a system to recycle the filters from various types of cigarettes (including IQOS, TEREA, etc.), made of cellulose acetate, a thermally insulating material that can be reused in the padding of winter jackets and in insulation materials.