On September 20, the 2023 “Golden Leaf Award” ceremony was held at the Conrad Hotel in Seoul, South Korea, where six companies and institutions from the tobacco industry accepted the trophies, including e-cigarette companies and tobacco industry ngos. Three Chinese e-cigarette companies – Simol, Xinyikang and Jiyou Group – won the award.
The Golden Leaf Awards have been held since 2006, and the first awards were held in Indonesia. Vaporesso, Innokin, ICCPP, ANDS, Alliance One India Industries (AOII) and The Center for Agricultural Transformation (CAT) is one of six companies or organizations to receive the 2023 Gold Leaf Award.
The organizers of the Golden Leaf Award announced the reasons for the award:
Vaporesso
Vaporesso, the open systems division of the world’s largest atomization company, Smores International, won the award for its Vaporesso COSS technology. COSS stands for “Easy Operation, Smart Supply”. The system addresses the long-standing pain points of existing products, is intuitive in design, and caters to the habits of traditional smokers.
Innokin
Innokin was awarded for developing a ceramic material that removes metal from e-cigarette coils. Innokin has developed a new type of coil that uses conductive ceramics as a heating element. Usually, conductive ceramics are made by adding metals that can withstand high temperatures to increase the electrical conductivity of the ceramics. However, the resistance of such conductive ceramics cannot be controlled. Innokin successfully combines non-metallic materials with ceramics to achieve excellent electrical conductivity, resistance consistency and lower power consumption. Conductive ceramic coils are stable and resistant to erosion. It heats up quickly and evenly, producing a purer taste.
ICCPP Group
The Geely Group was awarded for its commitment to providing cutting-edge technology. Year after year, the company has consistently invested 10 percent of its earnings in the research and development of electronic atomization, resulting in structural and technological advancements, such as the Gene Tree Ceramic core and the Gen Chip, that have revolutionized the smoking experience. Dedicated to meeting the needs of different markets and users, we have successfully launched a broad portfolio of e-cigarette products, including Drag, Vinci and Cyclo.
ANDS
ANDS Slix’s single-use e-cigarette won the award. According to tests conducted according to ISO 14021:2016 by Waste Experts, a UK-based waste management professional services company, Slix is 99.29% recyclable. Its housing is made from 100% recyclable premium cardboard and comes with biodegradable silicone cigarette holders and butts. Compared to comparable products, Slix has 36% fewer components, 70% less waste by weight, 38% less landfill, and 57% less recycling time.
Alliance One India Industries (AOII)
Alliance One India Industries (AOII) was honored for its Women’s empowerment program in India. Indian women, especially those in rural areas, have always been at a disadvantage. AOII is committed to empowering women by providing them with training and resources to promote economic vitality and career development. To date, 186 women have benefited from the program, including 171 contracted farm families. Female participants shared that the program “helped” their families “create a new standard of living” and raised awareness of their “right to control life inside and outside the home.”
The Center for Agricultural Transformation (CAT)
The Center for Agricultural Transformation (CAT) was honored for its work to help Malawi diversify its economy. Funded by the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World, CAT improves agricultural productivity through science, technology and innovation, while helping innovators turn their ideas into sustainable agribusinesses that create new markets for alternative commodities produced by smallholder farmers. At a demonstration farm near Lilongwe, the organization provides a platform for private sector partners to showcase their technology to help farmers optimize their operations.
