Tobacco production depends on natural resources and, if not managed responsibly, can create significant environmental impacts. Accordingly, Shasha Tobacco places environmental stewardship at the core of its sustainability agenda, with a focus on the responsible management of land, forests, water and agricultural inputs to support the long-term viability of the company and the broader tobacco sector.

Shasha Tobacco’s environmental priorities include:

Environmental awareness – equipping growers and field personnel with practical knowledge to embed environmental responsibility into day-to-day tobacco production.

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) – promoting farming practices that improve soil health, conserve water, strengthen resilience to climate variability and support sustainable productivity, in line with Zimbabwe’s transition toward climate-smart production systems.

Energy conservation – encouraging the efficient and sustainable use of energy across the value chain, with emphasis on renewable energy adoption, improved curing methods and enhanced barn efficiency.

Water and soil conservation – supporting good agricultural practices that reduce erosion, protect water resources and maintain healthy, productive soils.

Afforestation and biodiversity protection – promoting sustainable woodlot establishment and management to reduce pressure on indigenous forests and provide a renewable source of curing fuel. In addition, farmers are encouraged to protect natural vegetation, avoid land degradation and integrate tree-based practices into their farming systems. This remains particularly important given the environmental challenge posed by tobacco curing in Zimbabwe.

Responsible agrochemical management – promoting the correct handling, application and storage of agricultural chemicals, as well as the responsible management of empty agrochemical containers. Farmers are encouraged to dispose of empty containers in line with Shasha Tobacco’s Container Management System (CMS), which supports the safe collection, decontamination and recycling of used containers.