Patent Law Practice Center

Reynolds American Patents Transparent Smokeless Tobacco, Biodegradable Adhesives 

The CDC estimates that over 42 million adults in the U.S. are smokers. Other estimates claim that there are currently 1.1 billion smokers worldwide. Still, the American tobacco market is shrinking, which has companies like Reyonlds American (owner of RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company) searching for innovative solutions for the future.

Reynolds American is not the most prolific innovator that we have covered, but it does have a leading research and development position among cigarette makers. The company holds a portfolio of 1,011 active patents, including 307 U.S. patents, according to information collected from Innography’s patent portfolio tools. A search of recently issued patents shows that the American tobacco giant is shifting its research and development focus away from traditional tobacco products and towards e-cigarettes, smokeless tobacco products and cigarettes that are more environmentally friendly, or at least that possess a greater degree of biodegradability.

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