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Philip Morris USA controversies

Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.

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  1. 2026

    Albuquerque sues eight tobacco companies over cigarette butt litter

    Lawsuit filed

    The City of Albuquerque filed a lawsuit against eight tobacco companies, including Philip Morris USA, Altria Group, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Reynolds American, Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company, British American Tobacco P.L.C, Liggett Group and BSR Distributing. The city seeks to recover costs of cleaning up cigarette butts from streets, sidewalks, waterways, arroyos and public places. Albuquerque alleges the companies continue to produce non-biodegradable filters despite knowing they create waste.

    Stated objective. to hold the companies accountable for litter involving cigarette butts and recoup cleanup costs

    Company response

    • Denial — ITG Brands

      As a responsible manufacturer, we take this matter seriously and disagree with the claims made against us. We will respond through the appropriate legal process

    Source excerpt

    • The City of Albuquerque is suing eight tobacco companies to hold them accountable for litter involving cigarette butts.
    • The city attacked the companies for continuing to produce non-biodegradable filters, knowing the filters create the waste they have to clean up.
    • The city is suing Philip Morris USA, Inc.; Altria Group, Inc.; R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company; Reynolds American, Inc.; Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company, Inc.; British American Tobacco P.L.C; Liggett Group, LLC; BSR Distributing, Inc. (Blue Sky Distributors).
    Source

  2. 2000

    Image advertising during tobacco litigation

    Academic analysis connected a new corporate advertising wave to major tobacco litigation, including the Engle punitive-damages verdict, and examined the advertisements as a response to legal and reputational threats.

    Source

  3. 1999

    Corporate-image and youth-smoking campaign criticism

    Public-health organizations criticized Philip Morris’s large corporate-image and youth-smoking-prevention advertising effort, alleging that its primary effect was to improve the company’s reputation rather than materially reduce youth smoking.

    Source