BAT Korea chief Kim Eun-ji speaks during a press conference in Seoul on Nov. 5 to demonstrate the company’s recent study. It showed that switching to BAT’s flagship tobacco heating product, glo, has a similar outcome for the smoker to quitting. Photo courtesy of BAT Korea

Has cigarette company reached breakthrough?

Trying to end the long-lasting controversies on the health implications of heat-not-burn cigarettes, BAT Korea delivered latest scientific study results in a press conference in Seoul on Nov. 5.

Three scientists from BAT’s U.K. research center addressed the event online to discuss their analysis on the company’s flagship tobacco-heating product, glo.

Based on three-month data in the U.K., the scientists came up with evidence showing glo’s reduced risk potential compared to smoking traditional cigarettes.

For many of the toxicants measured, the levels found in participants were similar to those who stopped using tobacco completely, they said.

In other words, switching to glo has a similar outcome for the smoker to quitting _ the holy grail sought after by health-sensitive consumers and tobacco companies so long.

BAT’s senior scientist James Murphy said that the company will continue its journey to cut down on the health impact of its business by offering products with less risk.

“We understand that smokers considering making the switch to new category products such as glo, want to better understand the expected benefits and potential reduced harm they deliver compared to cigarettes,” he said.

“These initial results regarding glo are extremely encouraging – glo provides smokers who wish to continue using tobacco and nicotine products with a potentially reduced-risk alternative to cigarettes.”

The researchers also disclosed a recent survey on 4,500 smokers in Japan, which showed that key drivers of switching to tobacco-heating product like glo were the potential to reduce harm and odor, together with broader social considerations.

BAT Korea also vowed to keep the BAT group’s vision of building “A Better Tomorrow,” geared toward lowering the health impact of its business.

In tandem with the corporate vision, BAT strives to increase the number of customers who use its non-combustible products to 50 million across the world by 2030.

BAT Korea reaffirmed the Seoul-based company’s commitment to the global vision in time with its 30th anniversary in Korea.

BAT Korea chief Kim Eun-ji, the first female country manager in the Korean tobacco industry, explained BAT’s commitment to ESG, or environmental, social, and governance impact on the Korean community.

She promised that BAT Korea will become a responsible corporate citizen here.

“BAT founded a factory in the city of Sacheon in South Gyeongsang Province in 2002 and has made a continuous contribution to the local economy and industrial development for the last 30 years,” she said.

“Going forward, BAT Korea will continue to evolve, making Korea a global hub for product manufacturing and talents while ensuring we continue to think and act in a responsible and sustainable way.”

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