Full life cycle analysis of Dunhill International cigarettes as produced by British American Tobacco

Abstract

This article aims to explore the life cycle of cigarettes and its impacts, using the full life cycle analysis theoretical framework as the underlying basis of the study. Dunhill International cigarettes are referenced throughout as a specific cigarette brand for investigation and analysis due to their popularity and global appeal, although much of the article discusses and refers to cigarettes more broadly due to the relatively homogeneous nature of the product. The product, company and industry overview introduces the topic, which then leads into a thorough discussion detailing each phase of the product life cycle. This sets the stage for an in-depth analysis of the economic, environmental, and social impacts, both positive and negative, of Dunhill cigarettes and tobacco more broadly with reference to the broken window fallacy. The article closes with a brief conclusion and recommendations for further research. Product history and detailsDunhill International cigarettes first entered the market in 1967, the same year that Rothmans International gained a controlling stake in the Dunhill cigarette company (Wilberg & Vermeulen, 2008). Dunhill International cigarettes grew in popularity over the decades and are now exported globally including throughout Europe, North and South America, Asia and Australia (Mayer, 2010).Dunhill International cigarettes are much like other cigarettes in that they share the same three central elements. These are the paper, the tobacco itself, and the filter at the end of the cigarette. Dunhill cigarettes are available in a range of different packaging, from hardened paper packets to aluminium tins and cardboard cartons (Mayer, 2010). For the purpose of this article, this article will focus primarily on the three aforementioned central components of Dunhill International cigarettes since the packaging varies greatly and is not the primary focus.