Only new technologies are capable of producing the reconstituted tobacco ideal for HTP. Photo credit: TobaccoChina Online
In recent years, the tobacco industry witnessed a significant increase in interest for alternative products that offer reduced risks compared to conventional cigarettes. Heated tobacco products (HTP) emerged as one such innovation, designed to provide a potentially less harmful alternative for adult smokers. Key to the development of HTPs is the utilization of reconstituted tobacco as a filler.
Reconstituted tobacco sheets used in HTP are designed to have specific properties that optimize their performance. These sheets have controlled porosity, moisture content, and combustion characteristics, allowing for even and efficient heating, resulting in a more consistent and satisfying experience for users. Reconstituted tobacco technologies (RTT) offer manufacturers the ability to precisely control flavors, regulate nicotine levels, and reduce harmful compounds, which all contribute to enhanced taste, aroma, and overall smoking experience.
Over the years, significant advancements have been made in RTT to improve the overall quality and smoking experience of HTP. Recon tobacco made using machinery and technology used in the papermaking process is one of the most commonly-used worldwide. However, this outdated technology is currently only producing recon tobacco used in a minority of HTP and mainly used in combustible cigarette products. The majority of HTP have already been using recon tobacco produced using new technologies such as slurry or band-cast recon tobacco, tobacco dough casting technology and air-laid recon. Some of these new technologies employ nanofiber technology to splice the tobacco material into fibers that are only a few nanometers in diameter, offering a higher aroma and flavor than the old recon tobacco technologies, more ideal for HTP.
As the demand for reduced-risk alternatives grows, so does the demand for reconstituted tobacco as well as the number of industry players who continue to develop new technologies to produce improved recon tobacco.