The tobacco industry harms the environment in many ways, which threatens both the environment and public health.

Pesticides, growth regulators, and chemical fertilizers are heavily used in tobacco farming, which cause environmental health problems. Such problems are more common in low- and middle-income countries because of lax regulations. Tobacco waste contains over 7000 toxic chemicals, including cancer-causing compounds. Also, emissions from tobacco smoke contribute thousands of tonnes of cancer-causing compounds, toxicants and greenhouse gases to the environment.

Tobacco growing also contributes to deforestation. One tree is lost for every 300 cigarettes/1.5 cartons produced. Deforestation can contribute to climate change, by removing trees that eliminate carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Litter from cigarettes fouls the environment. Cigarette consumption around the world generates up to 680 million tonnes of discarded waste annually. Cigarette butts account for 30–40% of all items picked up in annual international coastal and urban clean-ups. Material that leaches out of these filters is toxic to aquatic life.