This all-Italian startup collects and recycles cigarette butts and turns them into soft toys and jacket padding

The Italian startup Human Maplebased in Castelfranco Emilia, has launched an innovative initiative to address the environmental problem caused by abandoned cigarette buttsa highly polluting waste. In fact, every year, thousands of tons of cigarette butts are dispersed into the environment, contaminating water and soil.

To give them new life, Human Maple has developed the project “Maple Cigarettes” which focuses on recycling of these butts transforming them into useful materials, such as padding for duvets, jackets and soft toys.

The recycling process begins with collection of cigarette buttscarried out thanks to the collaboration with Municipalities, municipal companies and private companies. The cigarette butts are collected in special places ashtray surveyinstalled in various cities, and in airtight bags supplied by Human Maple.

Once collected, the butts are transported to a plant where the filter, composed of cellulose acetate, is separated from the tobacco and the ash. Cellulose acetate, known for its heat-insulating properties, is then recycled to create new sustainable products.

1,586,970 cigarette butts collected

One of the main objectives of the startup is raise awareness the population regarding the importance of not leaving cigarette butts in the environment. To this end, the campaign #Rickme involves schools, companies and citizens, with the aim of educating and encouraging the correct collection of cigarette butts.

The project has already achieved considerable success: in 2023, more have been collected 65,000 butts only in the Modena area and others have been collected in various Italian cities thanks to the spread of interactive ashtrays. In total, for the moment, we have arrived at 1,586,970 cigarette buttscorresponding to 523.7 kg of waste removed from the environment and ready to be recycled.

The initiative demonstrated that an approach based oncircular economy can turn a problematic waste into a useful resourcecontributing both to the reduction of pollution and the promotion of sustainable fashion. Human Maple, with the support of companies like Hera, is continuing to expand this model, showing how small actions can make a big difference for the environment. Despite this excellent project, let us always remember that – if we really have to smoke – . Our future and that of the planet is at stake.