The company behind two of the UK’s most popular vape brands says new reusable versions leave it “well-equipped” to deal with the upcoming ban on disposables, despite concerns over producers exploiting “loopholes.”
Elfbar and Lost Mary have already launched reusable versions of their popular disposable vapes.
Elfbar said it was “addressing demand” for a tool to help smokers quit.
But critics say the vapes will not achieve the ban’s environmental aims, reports the BBC.
Councils have also warned that the UK government should not let producers exploit “loopholes” in the ban.
Green Fun Alliance is one of the main distributors in the UK of Elfbar and Lost Mary, which account for nearly half of the British market.
It is owned by low-profile Chinese entrepreneur Shengwei Zhang, 51, who also controls the companies that make Elfbar and Lost Mary vapes.
The latest accounts for Green Fun Alliance show that its sales have skyrocketed as disposable vapes gained popularity—almost tripling to £117.3m for the year ending January 31, 2023.
In a filing with Companies House, Green Fun Alliance noted the government’s plans to ban them from next April “will have a detrimental effect on sales and profitability.”
“However, management have been preparing for this and are well equipped to pivot their business to the exclusive sale of non-disposable vapes and related products,” it said.