New TCRG research on the tobacco supply chain

A new paper from the Tobacco Control Research Group investigates independent companies involved in the tobacco supply chain. The study found a lack of transparency in relation to connections to the tobacco industry in contrast to more visible claims made around sustainability and ethical practice. Companies in the study provide a range of products and services including agrochemicals, paper, processing machinery and finance.

The researchers analysed the annual reports and websites of 80 companies from the Tobacco Supply Chain Database. They used statistical methods to test visibility of the companies’ relationship to the tobacco supply chain and mentions of environmental social and governance (ESG) principles. Seven case studies provided more detailed narratives as to how some companies obscure their involvement in tobacco through opaque language or a lack of financial reporting.

Lead author Fred Dunwoodie Stirton notes:

“While the actions of transnational tobacco companies are relatively well-known, there is not much research on the activities of the many independent companies that supply the tobacco industry. We think this is a first of its kind piece of research and hope it inspires further scrutiny on the supply side of the tobacco epidemic”

Read the paper and related blog:

Independent companies in the tobacco supply chain: transparency and environmental social governance. F. Dunwoodie Stirton, R. Hiscock, J. Mehegan, A.W.A. Gallagher, M. J. Bloomfield, Tobacco Control, Published Online First: 08 January 2025, doi: 10.1136/tc-2024-058978

What we do and don’t know about independent companies profiting from the deadly tobacco industry, R. Hiscock, TCRG blog

Research suggests companies supplying the tobacco industry are not transparent about tobacco links, University of Bath news story