With all the negative publicity surrounding tobacco, it’s easy to lose sight of our industry’s positive aspects. Although we trade in a traditional commodity, many of our business practices and technologies are cutting-edge.
Think of a cigarette packing machine, for example. The ability to produce 1,000 cigarette packs every minute without shredding the cartons and pulverizing the tobacco rods (or injuring the operator, for that matter) should count as a small miracle.
Think also of our corporate responsibility initiatives. Most tobacco companies carefully look after the communities that provide their raw materials, investing in schools, hospitals and poverty-alleviation programs.
It’s important to recognize tobacco’s accomplishments. To create a positive buzz in a challenging environment, we have created an annual tobacco industry awards program, the Golden Leaf Awards, presented by Tobacco Reporter and sponsored exclusively by BMJ.
The first presentation of the Golden Leaf Awards took place in 2006, in Bali, Indonesia. The most recent one took place in September 2015, during the Global Tobacco Networking Forum at the Palazzo Re Enzo in Bologna, Italy.
Awards are granted on an annual basis to companies that have achieved outstanding performance in five categories—most impressive public service initiative; most promising new product introduction; most exciting newcomer to the industry; most outstanding service to the industry; and the BMJ most committed to quality award.
We challenge you to challenge our judges by nominating your company or another company deserving of recognition. And, of course, we would also like to thank BMJ. Without its generous support, this program would not have been possible.
2015 Golden Leaf Award winners, recognized in Bologna, Italy
Alliance One International Most impressive public service
US Tobacco Cooperative Most outstanding service to the industry
SPV Most exciting newcomer to the industry
Universal Leaf BMJ Most committed to quality
TDC/SCM Most promising new product introduction
2014 Golden Leaf Award winners, recognized in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, USA
The Tobacco Board of India Most impressive public service initiative
Tomra Sorting Most promising new product introduction
Shishapresso Most exciting newcomer to the industry
Alliance One International Most outstanding service to the industry
White Cloud Electronic Cigarettes BMJ Most committed to quality
2013 Golden Leaf Award winners, recognized in Cape Town, South Africa
Alliance One Kenya Most impressive public service initiative
British American Tobacco (BAT) Most promising new product introduction (Tie)
and
R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co. (RJR) Most promising new product introduction (Tie)
White Cloud Electronic Cigarettes Most exciting newcomer to the industry
Andromeda Forwarding and Logistics Most outstanding service to the industry
SEKE BMJ Most committed to quality
2012 Golden Leaf Award winners, recognized in Antwerp, Belgium
Alliance One International Most impressive public service initiative
Heinen Koehl Most promising new product introduction
Perten Instruments AB Most exciting newcomer to the industry
Mane Most outstanding service to the industry
Mane BMJ Most committed to quality
Previous winners include
2011 Golden Leaf Award winners, recognized in Prague, Czech Republic
Alliance One International Most impressive public service initiative
Reconex Most promising new product introduction
ECO2 Most exciting newcomer to the industry
NDC Infrared Engineering Most outstanding service to the industry
Vrijdag Premuim Printing BMJ Most committed to quality
2010 Golden Leaf Award winners, recognized in Balgalore, India
Universal Leaf Africa Most impressive public service initiative
Iggesund Paperboard Most promising new product introduction
Manifattura Italiana Tabacco Most exciting newcomer to the industry
Godioli e Bellanti Most outstanding service to the industry
EDAPS Consortium BMJ Most committed to quality
2009 Golden Leaf Award winners, recognized in Bangkok, Thailand
Sopariwala Exports Most impressive public service initiative
Filligent Ltd. Most promising new product introduction
Arabian Nights Most exciting newcomer to the industry
U.S. Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers Most outstanding service to the industry
Bimo Italia SpA BMJ Most committed to quality
2008 Golden Leaf Award winners, recognized in Rio de Janiero, Brazil
Universal Leaf Tobacco Co. Most impressive public service initiative
U.S. Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers Most promising new product introduction
Tobaccotoday.info Most exciting newcomer to the industry
Universal Leaf Tobacco Co. Most outstanding service to the industry
ITC Printing & Packaging BMJ Most committed to quality
2007 Golden Leaf Award winners, recognized in Paris, France
ILTD (ITC) Most impressive public service initiative
GCH Most promising new product introduction
Uncommitted Tobacco Auction Most exciting newcomer to the industry
Colin Mear Engineering Most outstanding service to the industry
ILTD (ITC) BMJ Most committed to quality
2006 Golden Leaf Award winners, recognized in Bali, Indonesia
Lakson Tobacco Company Most impressive public service initiative
Titan Adhesives Most promising new product introduction
TobaccoPeople Most exciting newcomer to the industry
Celenese Acetate Most outstanding service to the industry
WinterBell BMJ Most committed to quality