Major tobacco and cigarette company BAT Rothmans’ flower-planting campaign to reduce cigarette litter on the streets and promote a cleaner smoking culture has reached eight Seoul districts, according to the company on Wednesday.
The voluntary activity has so far introduced 50 newly decorated streets across the districts, including Jung, Gangnam, Gangdong and Jongno, since the first event in 2023. The Korean subsidiary’s campaign has resulted in planting 3,000 trees and flowers of 17 different species.
The campaign is targeting narrow and neglected alleys across Seoul, which often attract smokers who leave cigarette butts on the streets. By turning those spots into flower beds, the project not only prevents cigarette litter but also adds colorful scenery to the neighborhoods.
BAT Rothmans said the project has drawn the participation of local residents who voluntarily water the plants and remove weeds. Such efforts have improved the atmosphere of commercial sectors and kept local streets clean, the company added. It cited residents who say the campaign has “brightened the neighborhood and improved their living environment.”
BAT Rothmans has been running the campaign jointly with the Seoul Chapter of the Korean National Council for Conservation of Nature since signing a partnership in 2023. The first gardening project took place in Jung District, where the company’s headquarters is located.
Each project sees 700 volunteers from the company, the Korean National Council for Conservation of Nature and local residents of targeted neighborhoods. They use trees to purify the air and flowers that remain in blossom for long periods, like azaleas and chrysanthemums.
“This campaign is beyond a street cleaning activity. It’s our initiative to spread a sustainable environmental practice for local communities,” a BAT Rothmans official said.
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