CIGAMENT - Upcycled Cigarette Waste

Discarded cigarette filters are one of the most hazardous common wastes found in our environment. Their collection is very difficult and the recycling process is proven to be complicated, making cigarette butts the most littered item in the world. Furthermore, the major part of smokers tends to dispose of their cigarette butts incorrectly, which leads to contamination of the marine habitat, intoxication of plant life, and air pollution. In addition, the public is not sufficiently educated about the plastic polymers and other harsh chemicals found inside the filter they are throwing into the environment. Nevertheless, cigarettes are an addictive product that cannot be withdrawn from the market, for the time being, therefore, consumers and producers need to start taking responsibility by engaging in more research and development to resolve this worldwide cigarette waste (CW) crisis. Even though cigarette butts consist of toxic cellulose acetate (CA) fibers, if disposed of properly, CA can be reused as raw material after undergoing adequate treatment. Therefore, designers and producers have to step up in finding solutions for creating a circular economy that will help benefit both the environment and citizens by upcycling this harmful litter into a practical new material. Cigament is a unique composite material that has similar physical and mechanical properties as concrete but with an extra ingredient, cigarette waste. Conducting further experiments and exploration, it is observed that the CA fibers mixed with cement are proven to increase the volume of the material and be more resilient against impact, in comparison with cement and water. On top of that, based on the experiments executed, this new composite material can serve as a substitute for cement in certain contexts, aiming to enhance the waste by creating a workable paste capable of being operated in diverse areas.