Can you imagine a modern IT specialist without a smoke break? And the metropolitan high-rise buildings without the smell of smoke in the entrance? This is quite possible thanks to a new product — an alternative to cigarettes and vapes, which is already shaping a new culture of nicotine consumption.
This is exactly what we are talking about in a special project supported by Philip Morris Ukraine.
Can you imagine a modern IT specialist without a smoke break? And the metropolitan high-rise buildings without the smell of smoke in the entrance? This is quite possible thanks to a new product — an alternative to cigarettes and vapes, which is already shaping a new culture of nicotine consumption.
This is exactly what we are talking about in a special project supported by Philip Morris Ukraine.
Project Manager Andriy, who has been working in the team of an American startup in Silicon Valley for several years, has found an alternative to cigarettes for himself, which, firstly, helped the guy get rid of unnecessary odors that often annoy non-smokers, and secondly, increased his productivity, because he does not need additional breaks for smoking. This is a new product — nicotine pads, reminiscent of Swedish snus, but do not contain tobacco. «Now I can consume nicotine without disturbing others with smoke. This allows me to avoid frequent smoke breaks and reduces irritation during long meetings due to the desire to smoke, helping me stay focused on work,» says the IT worker.
Another consumer of the new product — a final-year student of the Faculty of Computer Science of Kyiv Polytechnic Institute named Igor — notes that he has been using nicotine pads for over a year: he received them as a gift from foreign friends, thanks to which he gave up cigarettes. «Now I am not addicted to cigarette smoke. I don’t need to allocate time and look for a specially equipped place. And it’s cool,» he told dev.ua
The consumption of nicotine pouches in the world is currently growing. For example, the most popular in the USA — the brand ZYN* is gradually expanding its expansion in world markets. This year it appeared in Ukraine. What is the new product and what advantages does it have compared to other nicotine-containing products?
Nicotine pads or ZYN pouches are small bags filled with flavored cellulose powder with nicotine. There are 20 such pads in one jar. The pouch is placed on the gum under the upper lip and the nicotine is released from it on its own. The product is manufactured by the Swedish company Swedish Match, which has been owned by Philip Morris International since 2022.
Unlike traditional Swedish snus, ZYN is made without the use of tobacco. The nicotine in the pouches is derived from tobacco leaves, but there is no actual plant in the composition. The pads contain plant fibers, nutritional supplements, and flavorings, making them a more modern alternative to snus and cigarettes.
What is the secret of the new product’s success? It’s simple — ZYN has a number of advantages compared to other nicotine-containing products that make it attractive to those looking for a modern alternative to smoking.
**Based on a non-clinical laboratory study conducted by FMI on a range of nicotine pouches on teeth and the most common dental composites. Unlike real-world conditions, teeth were not exposed to other dyes that could affect the results.
By the way, ZYN is the first and currently only nicotine patch brand to receive marketing authorization from the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration). This means that ZYN has been evaluated by the FDA for compliance with public health protection criteria, including risks and potential effects on smokers and non-smokers. The brand received such authorization in 2023. This status distinguishes ZYN from other nicotine products that are on the US market without FDA approval or are still undergoing the evaluation process.
The FDA has determined that ZYN pouches contain significantly fewer harmful ingredients than cigarettes and most smokeless tobacco products, such as snus or moist snuff, and are therefore associated with a lower risk of cancer and other serious diseases than traditional tobacco products.
Studies show that they have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease compared to cigarette smoking.
Clinical trials showed that ZYN users had significantly lower levels of harmful substances (toxins) in their bodies, such as NNAL (a metabolite of NNK, a lung carcinogen found in tobacco and tobacco products), benzene, butadiene, and acrylonitrile, compared to cigarette smokers. Moreover, predictive models show that switching a significant proportion of smokers to ZYN could reduce premature mortality and save millions of life years over the coming decades.
ZYN also provides a slower and less intense release of nicotine into the bloodstream, which reduces the risk of developing a strong nicotine addiction compared to traditional cigarettes. In addition, nicotine is not a carcinogen, like any other components included in the pouches.
ZYN has already conquered the markets of the USA, Great Britain, Sweden, Norway and other countries. And in April of this year, it appeared on the shelves of Ukrainian stores. «We want to offer adult consumers innovative solutions that meet their expectations,» says Maxim Barabash, General Director of Philip Morris in Ukraine. According to him, in 2025, Philip Morris plans to invest UAH 200 million in the launch of ZYN in Ukraine. In our country, ZYN can be purchased in partner stores or ordered online with delivery on the official ZYN website or IQOS .
ZYN has been on the US market for 10 years. ZYN is currently the #1 nicotine pouch brand in America ** .
** According to Philip Morris International’s global shipment volume and market estimate for ZYN pouch sales in the US, for the period from December 2023 to December 2024.
By the third quarter of 2024, ZYN accounted for 65,5% of nicotine patch sales in the US. The rapid growth in consumption led to a shortage of the product in the US last summer. Empty store shelves and pent-up demand naturally led to even greater interest in the product.
Philip Morris aims to become a company where more than two-thirds of its revenue comes from smoke-free products by 2030. With no restrictions on use, such as smoking bans in public places, ZYN could become a new lovemark among adult nicotine users.
Does not eliminate all risks. Contains nicotine, which is addictive. For use by adults only
