Tobacco Industry corporate social responsibility activities in Poland in the years 2019-2024

The tobacco industry frequently uses corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities to build relationships with stakeholders and maintain its legitimacy despite the health harms caused by its products. In Poland, where direct tobacco advertising is prohibited, CSR may serve as an indirect mechanism of industry influence.

We conducted a comprehensive review of publicly available information on CSR-related activities by the four largest tobacco companies in Poland (Philip Morris Polska, British American Tobacco Polska, Japan Tobacco International Polska, Imperial Tobacco Polska) from late 2019 through 2024. Sources included legal documents, government and local government websites, media reports, and the companies' social media, following a protocol aligned with the 6th recommendation of the Guidelines for Implementation of Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).

We identified four major categories of tobacco industry CSR activities: partnerships with educational institutions, cooperation with public institutions and government agencies, charitable initiatives, and engagement in policy and legislative processes. Across these categories, tobacco companies built relationships with public institutions and policymakers while presenting their activities as socially beneficial. Collectively, these activities extended beyond philanthropy, strengthening the industry's legitimacy despite restrictions on direct tobacco advertising.

The findings suggest that tobacco industry CSR in Poland functions as a broader mechanism of influence rather than solely as a philanthropic activity. Strengthening the implementation of WHO FCTC Article 5.3, increasing awareness among public institutions, and ensuring greater transparency in interactions with the tobacco industry are essential to protect public health policymaking.