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Are New Organic, 'Green' Cigarettes Really 'Eco Friendly'?

New magazine ads for cigarettes with "additive-free" organic tobacco say the products are "eco-friendly." The Natural American Spirit ads say the cigs comprise additive-free, organic tobacco. And ads for Natural American Spirit cigarettes say the same thing, and list environmental efforts by the manufacturer, Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co. Those ads started in March issues of books like Esquire, Field & Stream, Wired, Mother Jones, Elle and Marie Claire.

"It's an egregious ad. It's trying to greenwash a deadly and addictive product," says Vince Willmore of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, adding research shows cigarettes also are the No. 1 source of litter. "When you hear a product is eco-friendly, you think it's better for you."

"We try to be good stewards of the environment," says R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. spokesman Seth Moskowitz. About litter, he says a sister company helps fund Keep America Beautiful. Reynolds owns Natural American Spirit.

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