Key Points
·The Cigar Culture Summit, held ahead of InterTabac 2025, gathered industry leaders to discuss sustainability in tobacco-growing communities.
·Panelists emphasized the role of education, regulatory compliance, and ethical supply chains in shaping the industry’s future.
·Ricardo Carioni (PCA) called sustainability a core business value;
·Benoit Pirard (Oliva/VCF) warned of stricter EU environmental rules;
·Mercedes Vázquez (ITGA) noted rising pressure on growers from ESG demands;
·Jorge Maique (Casa Carillo) stressed career paths to retain youth;
·Cristian Eiroa (CLE) highlighted cultural gaps in environmental attitudes.
·A common theme: Sustainability is no longer optional—it’s essential.
2Firsts, September 18, 2025, Dortmund, Germany (By Taco Tuinstra)-Cigar industry executives and tobacco grower representatives debated how to ensure a sustainable future for the rural communities that provide the key ingredient for fine cigars: leaf tobacco.
The discussions were part of the Cigar Culture Summit on Sept 17, a new event that debuted this year ahead of the InterTabac trade fair in Dortmund, Germany, and brought together manufacturers, suppliers and retailers, along with cigar aficionados, from all over the world. 2Firsts provided on-site coverage of the event.
Moderated by Luciano Meireles of Luciano Cigars, the panel included Cristian Eiroa of CLE; Jorge Luis Fernández Maique of Casa Carillo; Mercedes Vázquez of the International Tobacco Growers Association; Ricardo Carioni of the Premium Cigar Association; and Benoit Pirard of Oliva Cigars/VCF.
Among other topics, the speakers addressed the environmental, labor and socio-economic realities in tobacco producing nations—and how sustainability, education and ethical supply chains are becoming the new standard.
Carioni said sustainability is about making tobacco growing communities resilient to changes in society, the environment and the cost of production. Sustainability, he stressed, has evolved from an add-on to a core part of the business. Carioni emphasized the importance of educating retailers and consumers. “Education is bridging awareness with action,” he noted. He want on to cite various examples of cigar manufacturers’ initiatives in reforestation, education and renewable energy—along with projects to improve employee wellbeing.
Commenting on the growing impact of regulations, Pirard noted that under new European rules, it would no longer be enough be sufficient to say, for example, that you applied rip irrigation on your cigar leaf plantations. “You will have to indicate how much water you saved,” he said.
Vasquez observed that tobacco production has moved from high-income countries to low-income countries, primarily with the goal of reducing the cost of production. At the same time, the shift from auction-dominated sales to contract sales in many markets had reduced growers’ negotiating power. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control globalized the anti-tobacco campaign. In such an environment, she noted, many growers view the added pressures of ESG campaign as a treat.
Addressing the challenge of keeping young people interested in the cigar business, Maique said it was important to provide employees with attractive career perspectives. He cited the example of an ambitious employee who had started out a humble cigar roller and progressed to the roles of mater roller, supervisor and, ultimately, factory manager.
Eiroa noted the significance of cultural and generational differences. Europeans tend have different views on environmental issues than Americans, he noted. And having witnessed his father chop down trees for tobacco operations in his youth, he was now determined to plant them back.
For more on-the-ground coverage, visit the 2Firsts Inter Tabac Special Section.
