The United Kingdom will likely announce a public consultation next week on a plan to ban single-use vapes, reports The Guardian. While the government has accepted the benefits of e-cigarettes in helping smokers quit, it is increasingly concerned about the environmental impact and youth appeal of disposable products.
Research conducted by Material Focus suggested vapers in the U.K. throw out 5 million single-use e-cigarettes every week, a fourfold increase on 2022. This amounts to eight vapes a second being discarded, with the lithium in the products enough to create 5,000 electric car batteries a year, according to the organization.
Smokers’ rights group Forest said that if the U.K. government’s aim is to reduce smoking rates, banning disposable vapes would be “a significant own goal.”
“Vaping has been a huge success story, with millions of smokers choosing to switch to a product that is far less risky to their health. Part of that success is due to disposable vapes which are convenient and easy to use,” said Forest Director Simon Clark.
“The answer to the problem of children vaping is not to ban a product many adults use to help them quit smoking, but to crack down on retailers who are breaking the law and selling e-cigarettes to anyone under 18.”
The answer to the problem of children vaping is not to ban a product many adults use to help them quit smoking, but to crack down on retailers who are breaking the law and selling e-cigarettes to anyone under 18.”
While stressing that the plans to ban single-use vapes were only at the consultation stage and no decisions had been made yet, the U.K. Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) said it too opposed the idea.
“We welcome the idea of a consultation on disposables as it’s key that the industry gets the opportunity to highlight the benefits, and therefore continued need, for single-use vapes as a smoking cessation method,” said UKVIA Director General John Dunne in a statement.
A ban, however, is not the answer, he cautioned. “Some 220 people die from smoking every day, 365 days a year,” said Dunne. “Disposables have proved to be highly effective in helping smokers quit their habits due to their ease of use, accessibility and low entry price points. They are one of the main reasons as to why the number of adult smokers in Great Britain has hit record lows for the last two years according to the Office for National Statistics.”
We welcome the idea of a consultation on disposables as it’s key that the industry gets the opportunity to highlight the benefits, and therefore continued need, for single-use vapes as a smoking cessation method.
Dunne suggested that the issues of youth vaping and environmental damage are due in part to lax enforcement of rules designed to prevent such problems. He pointed to recent research by Arcus Compliance showing that fines handed out to retailers for underage and illicit product sales amounted to just over £2,000 ($2,494) in 11 major provincial U.K. cities between 2021-2023.
Dunne also warned of unintended consequences of banning disposable vapes. According to him, the black market already represents over 50 percent of the single use market in the U.K. “This would only accelerate with a ban, he cautioned.
Dunne further highlighted industry efforts to tackle electronic waste, citing research by Waste Experts showing that disposable cigarettes are highly recyclable. “However, the biggest challenge is getting consumers to recycle their vapes and providing the waste disposal facilities in public places and at points of use that will enable higher recycling rates,” he said.
In a note to investors, TD Cowen said a ban on disposable vapes could benefit global tobacco companies with vapor exposure. While multinationals such as British American Tobacco and Philip Morris International have exposure to the disposable vape market in the U.K., category economics are more favorable for pod-based systems, according to the investment bank.
Scotland could ban disposable vapes under plans unveiled by the country’s first minister.
Campaigners have highlighted the environmental impact of disposable vaping products, which are often thrown on the ground after being used.
Concerns have also been raised around their growing popularity among young people, according to media reports.
Humza Yousaf said his government would hold a consultation on a single-use vape ban as he set out his priorities for the coming year.
He told the Scottish Parliament he hears too often about how common vaping is among young people.
“In the next year we will take action to reduce vaping – particularly among children,” he said. “I’m pleased to announce that this government will consult on curbing the sale of disposable single-use vapes, including consulting on an outright ban.”
A recent Scottish government report found that 22% of all under-18s – around 78,000 – are believed to have used a vape last year with more young people using them than smoking cigarettes.
It found that most e-cigarette users under 18 prefer single use vapes.
The review by Zero Waste Scotland estimated that up to 2.7 million single-use vapes were littered in Scotland last year. The study estimated that there were 543,000 users of e-cigarettes in Scotland and predicted that without intervention that will rise to 900,000 by 2027.
SCotland joins several countries such as France that are considering a ban on disposables.
France will ban disposable electronic cigarettes, according to a Reuters report citing comments by French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne.
“It’s an important public health issue,” Borne said, noting that the government is putting together plans for a national program to fight tobacco usage.
Borne said “puff” devices create habits among youth that can lead to tobacco addiction.
Following a tobacco tax increase this year, the government does not plan to raise taxes next year.
A man used 80 discarded vape batteries to power his e-scooter to make a point about the wasteful nature of the disposable products. Tobiasz Stanford, from Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England, says he wired the lithium-ion batteries up to a scooter he bought for £30 on eBay.
The scooter is now fully functioning and “very reliable”, said Tobiasz. “The amount of vapes I see on the street is really upsetting. These vape batteries have the potential to power a scooter. They’re very active still yet they’re marketed as disposable. It needs to stop.”
Tobiasz discovered vapes used a lithium-ion battery after taking several apart. He began recharging the batteries and found after one cycle they could function “almost like a brand new battery,” according to media reports.
Tobiasz says manufacturers and vape consumers need to think about e-waste with greater importance. “The amount of vapes I see on the street or in ponds – which have the potential to power a scooter – is so bad. They’re very active still. When those chemicals break down lithium will start to spill out,” he explains. “The consequences of that will be ridiculous. It will happen over time. We need to do what we can to stop this from happening and that includes banning disposable vapes.”
The Irish music festival Electric Picnic has banned the use of single-use disposable e-cigarettes ahead of the event this weekend.
The music and art festival taking place in Stradbally, County Laois, from September 1 to 3. It issued a statement warning attendees that single-use disposable e-cigarettes will be confiscated if found in their possession as they enter the festival this Friday, according to the Independent.
Taking to social media, the organizers of the festival said the ban was made in order to “protect the land” where the festival is being held.
“Disposable vapes are made of a mixed compound of materials making them very difficult to recycle and hazardous if not placed in the correct waste stream,” the statement said. “Please do not bring single-use disposable vapes as they may be confiscated on entry. They pollute the environment and incorrect disposal of these can be hazardous at waste centers.”
After a two year gap due to the pandemic, Electric Picnic resumed last year with almost 70,000 people who attended the event.
The festival announced on social media that Irish rock band The Script will be performing over the festival weekend, making this their first performance in Ireland following the death of their guitarist Mark Sheehan in April this year.
This year’s sold out event will be headlined by Billie Eilish, The Killers, Niall Horan and Fred Again.
The vape industry in Slovenia has quickly gone through several cycles over the past decade.
By Norm Bour
Slovenia is known for its diverse landscapes, giving it its nickname of “Little Europe.” The country, one of the smallest in Europe, is nudged between Italy and Croatia to the south, Austria to the north and Hungary to the east. It is part of the European Union and therefore abides by the all-inclusive Tobacco Products Directive (TPD).
On a recent visit to Slovenia, I visited two vape shops, one in the capital city of Ljubljana and the other in the second-largest city, Maribor, to the north. “Disposables are about the only practical option in Slovenia right now,” said the gentleman at Vape On Shop vapes in Ljubljana, “and taxes have pretty much killed the market for mods.”
Eighteen cents per milliliter equates to about €4.50 ($5.01) for one nicotine shot. To increase the pain, the same tax applies to non-nicotine vape products as well. When you add the value-added tax, that makes smoking a luxury in any form. A package of standard cigarettes is about €4.50, which is reasonable compared to some other countries.
Vape On opened about nine years ago and has ridden the rising tide of taxation in Slovenia as well as competing with outfits in neighboring countries that may be more proximate for some of its customers. Those taxes are scheduled to increase incrementally through the end of the year. Aside from taxes, it is also facing flavor bans, and the regulators want just one flavor—tobacco—to be offered.
“I think the government loses money on combustible cigarettes, and they are trying to get it back through our vape shops,” the shopkeeper confided. “We have some of the highest nicotine taxes in Europe, so that makes it hard to make money.”
During our conversation, a customer came in looking for THC, which is illegal in Slovenia. HHC is acceptable, however. Vape On offers it as a smokable herb as well as in gummy form, but, like many vape shop operators, the shopkeeper was reluctant to sell it, and he kept it hidden.
“I started in vape to help people stop smoking, just like I did,” the shopkeeper said. “I really don’t want to sell products just to get the customer high, which is a common sentiment among the vape shop crowd. He was a lifelong smoker and a 10-year vape converter.”
Moving up to Maribor, I stumbled across one of the coolest vape shops I’d seen in a while—a real crossover since it was a coffee shop as well as a bar.
“We’re pretty new here in this location, and we started as a bar, then added vape,” said Jure Strasek of the Vape and Puff Shop. “All together, we have 14 shops in Slovenia and one in Zagreb, Croatia. The name of the bar is Belidim Bar, and some people come in for one thing, maybe coffee, and now we can offer them choices.”
Walking in was almost a step back in time since many shops I have seen over the years have been low-key affairs. Whereas vape shops from a decade ago were sometimes opulent and impressive, most today are small and more functional. In the entry is the bar area with a curving staircase in the rear, with a crystal chandelier hanging above! If the bar was going for a Victorian look, they succeeded—but I think they were intending to create an air of classiness in the shop, which they achieved too.
“All our products must remain hidden,” shared Strasek. “We open up the display doors or turn on the lights only when we know we have a legal customer. The display cases are softly lit so you can barely see anything, and we are very careful to avoid selling to minors.”
When I asked about favorite flavors or brands, he replied, “We sell our own called Egoist and Exotic Oxygen, and we sell many different flavors. We also have a few lines that fit under those brands, but overall, those two cover most of them.”
Vape and Puff Shop is bucking the trend since disposable sales are secondary to their liquid sales, which is old school and different from most shops today. Its prices are quite affordable—a 60 mL bottle of the shop’s house brand retailed for €19, but that is without nicotine and without a base flavor. The shop adds nicotine and flavor separately.
Due to regulations that prevent them from selling pre-mixed flavors, this provides a special niche unlike most other vape shops.
I asked Strasek if he thought the government might succeed in banning flavors, and he responded with an empathetic “no.” “Maybe in disposables, but I don’t think they will ban individual flavoring,” he said. “That would pour over into flavors for candies, cookies and other treats, so where do you draw the line?”
Nic shots are limited, per the TPD, but he believes that they will continue to grow their shops.
The vape industry has gone through several cycles over the past decade. In the heyday from 10 years ago, many also went the multipurpose route as Vape and Puff did in Maribor. It would be a trend I would love to see continue.
Meanwhile in Croatia, two big events happened on Jan. 1, 2023. Even though the country was already part of the European Union, it not only adopted the euro as its currency that day but also became part of the Schengen Zone, which means it now shares passport controls with the other 26 countries that are part of the agreement. In Split, Croatia, I returned to VAPEX, a shop that I profiled in December 2021, to ask about changes in its model.
“Business has been good,” said Igor Eberhardt, the owner of the shop. “We just opened another shop in Dubrovnik. But, like everywhere, we are dealing with increasing taxes, which are currently €0.16 per milliliter—and that is for pure base even without nicotine.” Those numbers are staggered to increase for the next several years, and that has been giving Eberhardt pause since he desires to open a higher profile vape bar in Split.
It seems that Croatian vape laws, aside from the TPD, follow those of Germany. So if Germany decides to limit or regulate flavors, Croatia will probably follow suit.
I asked if there had been any changes in Eberhardt’s business since the first of the year, when the euro replaced the kuna as the country’s legal tender.
He laughed and said, “We miss the kuna, and we do not like having to deal with euro coins since before, we didn’t use change!”
And if that is his biggest problem, he is a lucky man!
Norm Bour is the founder of VapeMentors and works with vape businesses worldwide. He can be reached at norm@VapeMentors.com.
For 15 years, Haka Korea has been making innovative strides in the fast-growing global vaping market.
By Timothy S. Donahue
E-cigarettes are a less risky way to use nicotine. If they were more harmful than combustible tobacco products, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration would not have authorized 23 vaping products for sale. Likewise, the U.K. would not be promoting vaping products as tools to help cigarette smokers quit if they were not less harmful than traditional cigarettes. E-cigarettes and other vaping products are tools for harm reduction, and there’s plenty of research to confirm this.
According to a Statista survey conducted in South Korea in 2021, around 33 percent of men smoked cigarettes. However, cigarette use in the country has steadily declined. This can mostly be attributed to the rise of e-cigarettes and other less risky products, such as heated-tobacco devices, taking a more prominent place in the market. In 2020, KAMJE, the journal of the Korean Medical Association, published an article citing medical experts advocating for wider availability and softer regulations regarding e-cigarette use because of vaping’s potential to help smokers quit or switch to less risky products.
“There is an ongoing debate within the public health community about e-cigarettes on whether they have a potential role in smoking cessation. ‘Quit or die’ is no longer the only option for those who cannot quit,” the article states. “Safer nicotine products offer another way. There is substantial international and independent evidence that these products are safer than cigarettes.”
Haka Korea was founded in 2013 and has been widely recognized in the vaping industry for its advancements in technology and consumer-orientated services. Haka leadership said the company strives to improve the lives of both smokers and nonsmokers, and it endeavors to offer the best products and services with its customer-focused approach. However, the Korean market presents its challenges.
“Right now, the Korean e-cigarette market lacks a concrete regulatory framework. Furthermore, taxes imposed on the product are incredibly high. It’s an unbalanced system,” said a Haka representative. “These laws and rules are handled by different governmental departments, leading to difficulties in implementation. Additionally, taxes must be paid in a variety of ways, making it hard to manage.
“Given that there is no powerful group yet spearheading this cause, it will be a challenge to change preexisting laws to fit current circumstances. Nevertheless, our team believes that if these laws can be modified and adjusted through sustained struggle, the possibilities for growth in the e-cigarette sector in Korea would be massive, and competition could be sustained. It won’t be easy, but we think it’s worth taking on.”
Haka is focused on providing safe and reliable products and services. The company works at these goals in a socially responsible manner and is dedicated to developing and maintaining ethical standards, according to the representative. Haka products have been tested and certified by several regulatory bodies in several countries, including the European Union.
In 2016, Haka Korea was honored with the Product Safety Commendation by the Korea Standards Association, a branch of the Korean government. The commendation served as confirmation of the product’s safety, according to Haka’s spokesperson.
During the following years until 2023, Haka has been awarded the Best Brand Award Selected by Consumers at an event co-hosted by the newspaper JoongAng Ilbo and Forbes Korea. The awards were sponsored by Korea’s Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
Haka has made several industry advances. For example, the company has been granted a patent for an adaptable charger that is compatible with mobile phone chargers. After introducing Haka Premium in 2013, it sold over 2 million units and became legendary among early e-cigarette users in Korea.
During the vaping sector’s early years, which were plagued by defective devices, the company also implemented one of the industry’s first warranty programs to guarantee customer satisfaction. In 2013, the company also found fame in the development of its micro five-pin charging method. It has also excelled at creating several safety protocols, better batteries and two safety protection circuits that are installed on all of Haka’s hardware.
“In 2015, we registered our most groundbreaking product yet—an automatic system that was powered by minuscule currents from the human body without the need for buttons. This caused quite a stir within the industry. Haka Korea strives to continue innovating and researching new concepts,” the Haka representative said. “Despite being one of the leading domestic electronic cigarettes on the market, external pressure due to regulations has been mounting. Nevertheless, we did not give up and released the CSV pod system, known as Haka Signature, in 2019, setting ourselves up for a new successful leap forward.”
Haka is taking a proactive approach to protect the health of smokers who have quit combustibles using its products. For instance, Haka Korea has implemented a “no smoking” policy in all its stores, which prohibits the use of any tobacco-based or nicotine-based products. Haka Korea also offers a wide range of smokeless tobacco products, such as heat-not-burn devices, to provide customers with options that are less harmful than traditional smoking.
In addition, Haka Korea provides information and resources to its customers on the potential health risks associated with smoking. “Haka Korea provides quality customer service and strives to create a safe and comfortable shopping experience for all customers. Haka Korea has established a customer service center to assist customers with any queries related to the company’s products and services,” explains the spokesperson. “In addition, Haka has created a website that allows customers to easily find information about products and services as well as to place orders online.”
Haka has applied for and registered over 30 patents in areas such as trademarks, designs and technology. Furthermore, they have received several mandated certifications, such as CE (European Commission certification), RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive), KC (South Korean standards) and SGS (South Korean Assessment, Auditing and Certification).
To comply with various regulations globally, the company works to ensure that all authorized retailers of Haka products comply with domestic laws and regulations and are effectively managed. In addition, Haka has established an authorized retailer training program to ensure that staff are knowledgeable about the company’s products and services.
Haka says it is making great strides to expand its presence in the domestic electronic cigarette market. Currently, Haka Korea has 50 directly managed stores located nationwide, and the company plans to open more than 100 directly managed stores by 2023. In addition, Haka Korea is actively working to increase its presence in the online market, with plans to launch an online marketplace for its products soon.
There are currently over 700,000 former smokers using Haka Signature, according to company data, and more than 3 million products have been sold. The company states that more than 50 million pods have been produced, and those numbers keep growing day by day.
Haka saw the opportunity in the Korean pod vape market and teamed up with FEELM, a leading closed-pod atomization company, to produce Haka Signature—a closed pod system powered by FEELM’s innovative ceramic coil heating technology. Retailers said after the release that Haka Signature’s space-like design helped it stand out from the competition, differentiating itself from most conventional USB drive-like and cig-a-like products on the market. Closed pod system products account for over 90 percent of total revenues for Haka.
Haka decided to collaborate with FEELM by introducing Signature’s ceramic coil vape pod to the Korean market for the first time. Not only did this solve several familiar complaints from e-cigarette users (e.g., spitback and burnt taste), but it also reduced the leakage rate to an unprecedented 5 percent, which is far lower than the cotton coils used in competitive products, according to FEELM data.
Moving forward, Haka leadership intends to continue making significant strides in research and development to create products dedicated to health. The company is investigating different facets of the healthcare industry and brainstorming progressive solutions that it could potentially offer to not only its current clients but to the broader global market. In the end, Haka Korea hopes to establish continuous growth.
“This shift toward healthcare-focused brands shows our dedication to spreading the message of healthier choices. It is a lofty goal, but with our proficiency, commitment to introducing new ideas and focus on quality, we feel prepared to bring this vision into fruition,” the Haka representative said. “Ultimately, Haka Korea’s long-term ambition is consistent growth within both the e-cigarette and healthcare industries while providing excellent products and services for consumers.
“We wish to assist those who want to quit smoking by giving them accessible options and helping people lead more healthy lives with a diversity of products. This expresses our dedication to establishing healthier lifestyles and choices among consumers. It’s an ambitious aim, but with our expertise, dedication to advancing the field and focus on quality, we know we can achieve it.”
Disposable vaping products are quickly replacing cigarette butts as the most common form of litter.
VV staff report
It’s a real environmental issue. Studies suggest that disposable vaping products are quickly replacing cigarette butts as the most common form of litter found on streets and in waterways. More than 5,800 unique disposable products are now being sold in numerous flavors and formulations in the U.S., according to IRI data, up 1,500 percent from 365 in early 2020.
The disposable boom began in February 2020 when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration outlawed flavored nicotine e-liquids in prefilled cartridges for reusable vapes. This decision did not mention disposable vapes. As a result, sales of disposables shot up by 196.2 percent by March 2023, according to the CDC Foundation. By that time, about 11.9 million disposables were sold every month, surpassing cartridges with a 53 percent market share. Consumers in the U.S. throw away 4.5 disposable vapes per second. As the disposable market became popular in the U.S., it also began to go global.
In the U.K., Zurich Municipal, a subsidiary of insurance giant Zurich, published the results of its recent research that found that 2 million single-use vaping devices are discarded every week. The 2 million number quoted by Zurich Municipal is 700,000 units more than the 1.3 million that was estimated by Material Focus, which is funded through the country’s Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) compliance fee.
The number of vapers in the U.K. has grown exponentially from 3.7 million in 2021 to 4.3 million last year, Zurich reported. The research estimated that around 78 percent of the 138 million vapes sold in the U.K. end up in general waste instead of being recycled.
A recent PennEnvironment Research and Policy Center report titled “Vape Waste: The Environmental Harms of Disposable Vapes” found that the accumulation of electronic waste from single-use e-cigarettes is outpacing efforts to create infrastructure to recycle them properly. A major hazard that vaping products pose to public health is that disposable e-cigarettes contain hazardous materials that can leach into soil and contaminate groundwater. In addition to creating plenty of plastic waste, discarded e-cigarettes can also be considered both e-waste (because of their circuitry and lithium-ion batteries) and hazardous waste (because they contain nicotine).
While combustible cigarette pollution takes up to 10 years to degrade, disposable vapes are nonbiodegradable, according to a recent PennEnvironment report. “Who looked at cigarette butts polluting our beaches and thought, ‘How can I make a product that will more effectively trash our oceans by never decomposing?’” the PennEnvironment report authors’ question.
Compounding the issue, the report found that there is currently no standard for recycling disposable vapes anywhere. Typically, once all the liquid has been atomized, the vape cannot be refilled. Most end up in landfills. However, even if there were recycling centers for vapes, the PennEnvironment report authors suggest that single-use vapes are still a bad idea.
“We can’t recycle our way out of the problems caused by increasing electronics manufacturing,” the PennEnvironment report states. “While it’s better to recycle than not, our priority should be making fewer devices … not churning out junk we don’t need in the first place.”
The problem isn’t going away by itself. Disposable e-cigarettes have the potential to make a massive impact on the environment, according to a 2018 article in the American Journal of Public Health, and tighter regulations on one-use vapes are needed to avoid a potential environmental disaster, as noted in a letter published in 2022 in Lancet Respiratory Medicine.
Credit: Benny Robo
The United Nations reported that “recycling activities are not adequate to keep up with the expanding production of e-waste.” In the Americas, only 9.4 percent of all electronic waste is recycled—a statistic that further highlights the e-cigarette issue. Capacity isn’t the only factor here; many countries lack the technology necessary to take modern gadgets, such as disposable vapes, and convert them back into their component parts.
In 2019, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) began to accept vaping devices and cartridges at any of its drop-off locations during its National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. However, the agency stated that “it is important to note that DEA cannot accept devices containing lithium-ion batteries. If batteries cannot be removed prior to drop-off, DEA encourages individuals to consult with stores that recycle lithium-ion batteries.” However, few stores accept used vapes in the U.S.
In the U.K., stores must bear the responsibility for taking back and disposing of any small electronic items, even if customers did not purchase them from that specific shop. Smaller shops who are unable to do this themselves are required to pay a fee to support the collection, disposal and treatment of these products when they become waste. However, according to the U.K. Vaping Industry Association, vapers and members of the vaping industry may not always be aware of this rule. This means many disposable vapes sold in the U.K. also end up in the traditional trash heap.
For many, the only way to combat the waste from disposable vapes is to eliminate the product category entirely. “These products harm our health and environment,” write the authors of the PennEnvironment report. “They waste the finite resources needed for manufacturing new technology. The only solution is a ban.”
The U.K. government is expected to propose plans to tackle vape disposal before the end of the year as part of a more comprehensive reform of e-waste regulations. The proposal could include an outright ban on disposable products, according to experts. “Without a doubt, disposable e-cigarettes should be banned. There is absolutely no reason that these cheap, readily available, brightly colored, recreational products should be single-use,” said Mike McKean of the Royal College for Paediatrics and Child Health.
Though there’s some enthusiasm for a disposable vape ban among Members of Parliament (a separate bill for this is currently progressing through the House of Commons), the government is unlikely to go all the way in its revamp of the WEEE regulation, according to Euro News.
In the U.S., meanwhile, officials have recognized the recent actions by the FDA to get flavored disposable vapes off the market; however, the PennEnvironment report calls for more enforcement. Many of the FDA’s actions have had little impact on the market. While a few states and cities have prohibited flavored vaping products, none have prohibited disposable products completely.
It’s also the responsibility of consumers to keep the environment in mind when purchasing vape products, according to the PennEnvironment report. “Adult vape users should only use approved products with refillable or cartridge-based systems,” it states. “Using disposable products is unsustainable.”
Numerous companies are trying to make vapes that can more easily be recycled. Dubai-based e-cigarette manufacturer ANDS has created a disposable vape that is 99.29 percent recyclable, according to Waste Experts. ANDS’ Slix disposable vape device is constructed of an outer casing made of 100 percent recyclable high-grade cardboard with a biodegradable silicone mouthpiece and end piece. ANDS is also partnering with Waste Experts to create a recycling program.
“While the analysis carried out by Waste Experts suggests that our single-use vape is highly recyclable, we will continue to work toward zero waste,” said Marina Murphy, senior director of scientific and medical affairs at ANDS. “We aim to build a high rate of recyclability into all our products by using high-quality recyclable materials and simple construction that allows for highly efficient dismantling. This contributes to a fast, efficient overall recycling process, which reduces waste management costs. This in turn helps to keep product prices competitive, creating a win-win for the environment and adult consumers who value our products.”
Vaping industry companies have a vested interest in tackling one of the industry’s major issues. FEELM, which makes ceramic coils used in many popular vape brands, is behind a new initiative encouraging consumers to send their single-use devices off for recycling. FEELM is one of the largest closed-system vape solution providers in the world.
“At FEELM, we believe that the responsibility of building a sustainable future extends beyond creating innovations,” a FEELM representative said. “This is the first industrial end-to-end disposable recycling scheme, including manufacturers, brands, delivery companies, waste management companies, retailers and ultimately the consumers. The scheme allows us to contribute to the planet’s well-being while also positively influencing the public perception of the vaping industry.”
Fadi Maayta, president of ANDS, warned that an outright ban on disposable vaping devices could drive former smokers back to combustible cigarettes, so the industry must search for a viable solution. “If these single-use vapes are restricted or banned over environmental fears as is being talked about in some circles—smokers could lose what many believe to be a very convenient, accessible and compelling alternative to conventional cigarettes,” he said.
Kangvape, a manufacture of vaping devices and accessories, officially announced a strategic collaboration with generalvape.com, an online vaping retailer. This alliance will make generalvape.com the official distributor of Kangvape products.
“Kangvape has continually demonstrated a commitment to delivering exceptional vaping experiences,” a press release states. “Their cutting-edge designs and quality manufacturing have cemented their position as a top brand in the vaping community. The partnership with generalvape.com aligns with Kangvape’s mission to enhance accessibility and provide unparalleled service to its growing customer base.”
As an official distributor of Kangvape, Generalvape.com will house a comprehensive line of Kangvape’s latest products. Kangvape also announced a partnership with RandM Vapes and is now the official distributor for RandM Vapes.
The vape industry has always had an image problem. Rogue industry players have long been using cartoon characters and youth-friendly names that seemingly entice youth to use e-cigarettes.
This has led to regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to use a heavy hand when enforcing the products.
Nothing highlights the issue more than an offering from High Light Vape, which is selling a vape pen disguised as a highlighter.
High Light Vape’s “Office 4” e-cigarette has vibrant neon colors and an angled tip, making it identical to a regular highlighter often used by youth in school and home settings.
The controversial product provides 4,000 puffs and comes in 20 different flavors, lending itself to being used in schools unnoticed by teachers.
In a statement to NewsNation, High Light Vape said the design is meant to be a “discreet solution” for people who wish to avoid “scrutiny from their peers” within “professional environments.”
“Emblazoned on our packaging is the prominent age restriction of 21 and older, a testament to our unwavering commitment to refraining from sales to minors,” the company added.
