The Macau parliament approved an amendment to the law on smoking prevention and control that prohibits the manufacture, distribution, import, export and transport of vaping products in and out of the region.
The law provides for penalties of MOP4,000 ($500) for individuals, with a fine of between MOP20,000 and MOP200,000 for companies.
Although the proposal was unanimously approved, during the debate in the Legislative Assembly, several members said that the government should go further, and impose a total ban on e-cigarettes, reports Macau Business.
Leong Sun Lok expressed concern that the new legislation might increase the smuggling or sale of e-cigarettes through the Internet or lead to an increase in the number of conventional cigarette users.
The Macau Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China’s secretary for social affairs and culture confirmed that they are considering a later ban on e-cigarettes after giving “some time” to smokers who may “still have some in stock.”
Elsie Ao Ieong U also promised to review, within three years, the tax on all tobacco products, which in Macau is around 60 percent of the final price.
Ron Lam U Tou advocated increasing the tax, noting that the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends a value of 75 percent.
The only Portuguese member in the parliament, José Pereira Coutinho, warned that the legislative revision could harm tourists who are only “passing through,” namely to mainland China, where e-cigarettes are allowed.
The legislative amendment will come into force three months after it is published in the Official Bulletin of the Chinese special administrative region.
The sale, advertising and promotion of e-cigarettes have been prohibited in Macau since 2018.
The government justified the changes to the law with “the strong evidence that this type of tobacco product is harmful to health, and can endanger the safety of people,” recalling that the consumption of e-cigarettes has increased, especially among young people.
The government stressed that e-cigarettes are banned in the neighboring region of Hong Kong and Singapore, and the Taiwanese parliament is also discussing a proposed ban.
Thailand’s health ministry remains opposed to vaping, saying e-cigarettes are affecting the health of consumers of whom more than half are considered youth, reports Bangkok Post.
Speaking at a national conference on cigarettes and public health in Bangkok on Aug. 29, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stressed the need to continue banning e-cigarette imports to protect youth from the health risks associated with vaping.
More than half of the about 80,000 vapers in Thailand are aged 15–24, according to a survey conducted by the National Statistics Office last year.
“This clearly showed vaping has created new smokers, especially young people, while a growing number of international studies found smoking e-cigarettes has negative effects on young people’s brains,” said Charnvirakul.
Pointing to “the experiences of other countries,” Charnvirakul said banning e-cigarettes was the most effective measure to control vaping.
Concerns about illicit trade would be addressed by continued “crackdowns on e-cigarettes smuggled into the country,” he added.
Charnvirakul comments follow discussions about making vapor products legal in Thailand. Earlier this year, the Digital Economy and Society Ministry set up a working group to see if electronic cigarettes could be legalized as an alternative for smokers.
A Metro Council proposal in Nasheville, Tennessee that would ban vaping and smoking, even in 21-and-up bars, makes an exception for cigar bars. But hookah lounges and a new cannabis restaurant could be forced to change their businesses if the ordinance passes.
Anyone who works at or patronizes Alladin’s Hookah Lounge & Bar on Elliston Place in Nashville knows they will be surrounded by tobacco smoke. Bar manager Amy Abrecht says communal smoking is the whole point, according to WLPN.
Members of the Metro Council acknowledged in a hearing this month that hookah bars were an oversight. Sponsor Jeff Syracuse also said a new cannabis restaurant called Buds & Brews that offers vaping as part of the experience raised concerns.
“I don’t want to drive out of business new businesses that weren’t expecting this,” Councilmember Freddie O’Connell said at the meeting Aug. 16, when the ordinance was deferred to Sept. 20. “I don’t want to have this conflict emerge that we can’t work around.”
The problem is the Metro Council can’t simply amend the proposed ordinance. The city had to get legislation passed at the state level to be granted authority to ban smoking in 21-and-up bars. So adding an exception beyond cigar bars will take an act of the General Assembly too, which isn’t scheduled to meet again until next year.
A U.S. appeals court denied a petition to review the Food and Drug Administration’s marketing denial order (MDO) to Illinois-based e-liquid manufacturer Gripum, reports Vaping360.
Gripum submitted premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs) in September 2020 for about 200 bottled e-liquid products in nontobacco flavors. The company received an MDO on Sept. 8, 2021. Gripum filed a petition for review on Oct. 8 and was granted a stay of FDA enforcement in November 2021. The company participated in oral arguments before the court on April 20.
Gripum argued that the MDO was unfairly issued because Congress and the FDA did not establish any “ascertainable standards” to determine if the company’s products are “appropriate for the protection of public health.” The company also said that the agency changed the evidentiary standard for a successful PMTA after the application deadline had passed and that the agency failed to conduct individualized PMTA reviews as required by the Tobacco Control Act.
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected all of Gripum’s arguments, finding that the FDA’s approach to resolving the application was both reasoned and consistent with the Tobacco Control Act.
Gripum’s defeat follows a successful MDO challenge by six vapor companies. On Aug. 23, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit granted petitions for review filed by Bidi Vapor, Diamond Vapor and four other companies challenging the FDA’s rejection of their e-cigarette applications.
Disposable vapes help smokers to quit combustibles but are deadly for the environment.
By Maria Verven
Cigarettes used to be the most littered things in the world.
Trillions of cigarette butts are thrown onto our streets, parks and beaches every year. The Ocean Conservancy estimates that cigarette butts account for 25 percent of the total number of garbage items collected—over twice as much as any other category. Worldwide, it’s estimated that 1.69 billion pounds of cigarette butts end up as waste each year.
While some smokers may think their butts will eventually decompose, it actually takes decades for them to degrade. Cigarette filters aren’t made of innocuous cotton; they’re made of cellulose acetate and about 12,000 nonbiodegradable plastic-based fibers.
The chemicals in a single cigarette butt can contaminate hundreds of gallons of water. They can also be dangerous, causing fatal fires that burn hundreds of acres every year.
Things have changed dramatically in the last several years as many smokers have switched to vaping, thanks in large part to the convenience of disposable e-cigarettes.
In fact, these handy-dandy devices appear to be taking over the industry since they’re the simplest and most accessible vaping devices on the market.
But in the process, we created a whole new environmental hazard that, as of yet, has no easy solution.
Popular among youth
Among all the vaping devices on the market, none are more popular than disposable electronic nicotine-delivery systems (ENDS), particularly among young people.
According to the 2021 National Youth Tobacco Survey, well over half (54 percent) of youth who reported using e-cigarettes had used disposables. The 2020 Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study corroborated this finding. It reported that 38 percent of young adults aged 18–24 versus 17 percent of older adults (over age 25) who had used any ENDS product in the past 30 days had used a disposable.
At the May 2022 Vaper Expo U.K., nearly every vendor offered some variety of disposable device. Many were new to the market that were capitalizing on the trend—as well as renowned companies such as Innokin, which launched its new Aquios Bar disposable device in 10 different flavors.
“Disposable vapes are certainly the hottest-selling item among smoke-free nicotine-delivery devices,” said Dimitris Agrafiotis, owner of Global eVapor Consulting, executive director of the Tennessee Smoke Free Association and brand ambassador and designer at Innokin Technology.
Agrafiotis said disposable vapes attract individuals who make impulse buys at various points of sale as well as new users who enjoy the convenience of a product that doesn’t require any knowledge of coils or ohms. They can purchase disposables nearly anywhere where cigarettes are sold. They can simply tear open the package and start vaping, making disposables the perfect solution for beginners.
“In my experience, vapers who quit smoking use disposable vapes part time as secondary devices when they don’t want to take their usual rig with them, such as at a nice dinner or in situations requiring them to be more discrete,” he said.
The technology behind disposables has only continued to improve over the past several years. Most vape pens can now deliver around 400 puffs before they’re no longer viable—nearly twice as many puffs as a pack of cigarettes can deliver. Some vape pens with larger batteries can even deliver as much as 5,000 puffs.
Another significant advance is the use of auto-draw switches that activate the device and heat the coil when the vaper inhales, delivering a smooth and seamless experience.
And thanks to nicotine salts, disposables offer a smoother vaping experience. While the nicotine level in most disposables is limited to 5 mg, vapers can satisfy their nicotine cravings without a harsh throat hit or any interference in the flavor experience.
Speaking of flavor, that’s another advantage disposables have over refillable vape devices. Manufacturers often add sweeteners to disposables to make the flavors pop without having to worry that the sweeteners will gunk up and ruin the device. The disposable will be tossed long before that happens.
The range of flavors available from disposables is mind-blowing. As more and more manufacturers take advantage of the growth in this market, they entice vapers with interesting and often exotic flavor profiles, such as bergamot and carambola.
While battery technology hasn’t necessarily improved dramatically, some brands have created larger internal or rechargeable batteries in their efforts to increase puff count. This is a step in the right direction to reduce battery waste.
The environmental impact
Even refillable and replaceable vape pens typically contain several metal, plastic and cotton elements, making them difficult to separate and recycle. Thus, they tend to end up as general household waste. Even the smaller replaceable coils and pods don’t often get recycled.
But disposable e-cigarettes are way worse because the vaper disposes the entire device, which is composed of plastic and metal coils as well as a battery cell. While some brands and vape stores offer recycling programs for disposables, most vapers simply toss them into the trash.
Millions of lithium-ion batteries, hard plastic and nicotine-contaminated pods are being disposed of in our landfills, creating a significant waste problem. Nicotine, including nicotine salt, is listed by the Environmental Protection Agency as an acute hazardous waste. When disposables leak battery acid and/or nicotine into the environment, they harm fish and wildlife in the process.
The Food and Drug Administration is required under the National Environmental Policy Act to evaluate all major agency actions to determine if they will have a significant impact on the human environment. If the environmental assessment identifies significant environmental effects, the FDA will prepare an environmental impact statement to help make informed decisions on the relevant environmental consequences and alternatives available.
In addition to assessing potential environmental impacts of new tobacco products during premarket review, the FDA has also posted information for consumers on proper disposal of e-cigarettes and e-liquid waste.
“While we are excited that lots of people are not inhaling combustible tobacco, we should be concerned over the environmental sustainability and proper ethics in the sale of these products,” Agrafiotis said. “In its quest to market and sell millions of these products, the industry has failed to implement any type of consumer education or recycling initiative that would help alleviate the disaster,” he said.
“The irony is that in most countries in Europe, plastic straws are banned—and yet these products continue to be dumped by the boatloads. I simply cannot see how governments will allow this to continue, especially in Europe, where environmental waste is such a huge issue,” Agrafiotis said.
“With TPD 3 approaching and countries already discussing legislative measures, I believe the days are numbered for disposables—at least as we know them right now.”
What’s the solution?
The first and most obvious answer is to encourage consumers to use rechargeable devices.
Consumers could also be encouraged to purchase refillable pod devices, vape pens with replaceable coils or even rebuildable tank atomizers, all of which are far more cost effective in the long run, not to mention more eco-friendly.
The industry has yet to find ways to encourage and/or incentivize consumers to dispose of these devices in the right manner. When Agrafiotis tried offering a financial incentive for every disposable brought back to his store, there were very few takers.
“The younger demographic that predominantly uses these products simply doesn’t seem to care,” he said. “At least the older demographic tends to quickly transition from disposables to open systems when they realize the daily costs and environmental impact.”
Agrafiotis said he’s unaware of any other outlets for collecting and recycling disposable vapes. “At this point, there’s no budget or avenue for us to try and change the existing system. Incentives and/or drop-off points for hazardous waste should have started with the construction and sale of the first disposable vaping device ever made.”
“The only thing I could do is break the plastic and remove the battery and bring it to a battery recycler, but I would still have to dispose the plastic and nicotine pod in the trash,” he said. “All brands would have to work together to start a viable recycling program, but unfortunately, I simply do not see this is possible.”
Nevertheless, Agrafiotis said Innokin is striving to reduce environmental waste in its products. Innokin was the first company to start using fully recyclable packaging for its open vapor systems, made entirely of paper with absolutely no plastic, he said.
The first disposable vaping device that can be disassembled and recycled, the Innokin Enviro uses materials with a lower carbon footprint—a reinforced paper shell—to replace the plastic shell found in most disposable vaping devices.
“We believe disposable vapes should have less impact on the environment,” Agrafiotis said. “With more efficient manufacturing processes and recyclable designs, our goal is to continually optimize Enviro and make disposable vaping greener. We can only hope demand grows for this approach and more companies follow in the same green footsteps.”
Clearly, the industry must act quickly to devise solutions before the products that help millions of smokers are carbon taxed or—even worse—removed completely from the market.
“Most of all, I hope we see more people quit smoking and transition to vaping, regardless of the device they choose to help them. Any vaping devices that can help smokers around the world make the switch is worth pursuing,” Agrafiotis said.
“Plastic casings and batteries simply should not go into our landfills after just one use,” he said. “More companies should be actively looking at sustainable solutions and proactively working with existing recycling companies to implement programs to keep these products out of our already overflowing landfills.”
The original “Vaping Vamp,” Maria Verven owns Verve Communications, a PR and marketing firm specializing in the vapor industry.
MORE ON VAPING WASTE
Garbage facts
There is an estimated 44.7 million tons of e-waste generated around the world every year. That waste contains up to $65 billion worth of raw materials like gold, silver and platinum sent to a landfill. The amount of global e-waste is expected to increase by almost 17 percent to 52.2 million tons in 2021, or about 8 percent every year, according to Cleanaway Waste Management, an Australian waste management, industrial and environmental services company.
Vaping products contain lithium-ion batteries, a heating element and a circuit board. These components—which may include plastic and heavy metals—make disposing of e-cigarettes a considerable challenge because of the various types of chemicals and materials involved in their manufacturing.
The global disposable e-cigarettes market size is expected to be valued at $6.34 billion in 2022, according to Future Market Insights (FMI). The overall demand for disposable e-cigarettes is projected to grow at a CAGR of 11.2 percent between 2022 and 2032, totaling around $18.32 billion by 2032.
“Demand for non-tobacco products is expected to augment the growth of the disposable e-cigarettes market in the near future. It has been observed that older people prefer this product as it does not have any negative effect on health,” stated an FMI analyst.
There are no direct regulations for recycling or use of e-cigarettes, heated-tobacco products (HTPs) or the cellulose acetate filters in combustible cigarettes in the EU, U.S., China and Japan. There is some legislation that regulates the management of e-waste; however, these guidelines typically apply only to cell phones, computers and other large electronic products.
According to the Global Overview of Recycling Programs for E-Cigarettes, Heated-Tobacco Products and Vaporizers Business for 2022 and Future Prospects of Electronic Devices and Consumables Development report by Research and Markets, large vaping industry players have several recycling programs and recycling targets for the near future:
Philip Morris International established two hubs in Europe and Asia that inspect, process and separate materials from electronic devices for recycling. The effective recycling rate of IQOS devices increased from 30 percent in 2018 to 40 percent in 2020. The target recycling rate is 80 percent by 2025.
BAT replaces plastic elements of vapor products with pulp-based alternatives. The share of recycled waste was 79–80 percent in 2019–2021. The target recycling rate is 95 percent by 2025.
Japan Tobacco International launched a return scheme of used devices through the recycling boxes at shops. In 2020, 67 percent of produced waste was recycled. The target for waste reduction is 20 percent by 2030.
Imperial Brands launched takeback recycling schemes for used vaping devices and pods. The recycling rate decreased from 69 percent in 2017 to 61 percent in 2021. The target recycling rate is 75 percent by 2030.
Other vape companies (Dotmod, Shanlaan, Dovpo and Vinn) launch their own recycling programs by return schemes. Innokin works on battery utilization programs.
FEELM, an atomization brand and an independent business unit of Smoore Technology Ltd., won the IF Design Award 2020 for its eco-friendly Disposable Paper E-cigarette. CCELL launched a new line of disposable vaporizers in 2021.
Recycling companies Gaiaca and TerraCycle cooperate with vape manufacturers to provide services for collecting and recycling e-waste. Some vape producers cooperate directly with recycling companies; for example, RELX cooperates with China Siyan Foundation for Poverty Alleviation.
The Bowman Company offers refill stations to fill empty vapor bottles/pods. It will help to reduce plastic usage for vapor bottle production in the future.
It is expected that the future of e-cigarette, HTP and vaporizer recycling will depend on producers’ product life cycle programs. Recycling decisions from large vaping companies to combat waste include using a combination of polylactic acid (PLA) and plastic or starch blend and plastic for the device body; using paper packaging; and making inner packaging consist of paper or paper and PLA.
A survey by Opinium on behalf of Material Focus, a not-for-profit established to help the U.K. meet its electrical reuse and recycling targets, found that 18 percent of 4,000 people surveyed in the U.K. had bought a vape device in the previous year, with 7 percent buying a single-use device.
The Opinium figures would suggest that about 168 million disposable vapes are being bought every year in the U.K. Two of the biggest brands in the country are Elf Bar and Geek Bar, which between them make up about 60 percent of the market.
More than half of people that buy single-use e-cigarettes dispose of them in a general trash bin compared to 33 percent on average for all types of vape, according to the research. While each vape contains just 0.15 g of lithium, the scale of the waste means that about 10 tons of metal is ending up in landfills. – VV staff
A landmark poll in the U.S. has shown that marijuana use is greater than tobacco for the first time. The recently released Gallup poll showed that 16 percent of Americans said they smoked marijuana, compared to 11 percent who had smoked tobacco in the past week.
For comparison, a Gallup poll from the year 1969 showed that at that time, just four percent of Americans admitted they had even tried marijuana – compared to 48 percent today. But polling data from that same year revealed 40 percent of Americans had smoked tobacco cigarettes in the past week – and that number was the lowest recorded by Gallup on that issue between 1944 and 1972.
Marjiuana and tobacco usage trends have been going in opposite directions for a few decades now. By 1985, nearly as many Americans said they had tried marijuana (33 percent) as had smoked a cigarette in the past week (35 percent), according to News9.
Cigarette smoking has been declining ever since. By 2013, just 19 percent of Americans were smoking cigarettes at least once a week. The trend toward more marijuana smokers is driven by young people.
The National Institutes of Health reported last week that more young adults used marijuana in 2021 than in any year prior. Nearly a third (30 percent) of adult respondents under the age of 35 admitted to Gallup this year that they smoke marijuana. That’s significantly higher than those aged 35-54 (16 percent) or 55-plus (seven percent).
And just eight percent of adults under 35 are smoking cigarettes at least once a week. Slightly more adults aged 35-54 (10 percent) or 55-plus (14 percent) said they had.
The higher rates of marijuana smoking come with major political implications. A record high percentage of Americans (over two-thirds, per Gallup) say they favor legalization of recreational marijuana.
A U.S. federal judge declined to give preliminary approval to a proposed $117 million settlement between Altria Group and shareholders in a lawsuit over the company’s investment in Juul Labs, calling the deal “inadequate,” reports Law360.
The lawsuit contends that Altria’s executives threw caution to the wind when they bought a 35 percent stake in Juul for $12.8 billion in 2018.
According to the shareholders, the Altria executives also engaged in illegal and anti-competitive conduct that cost Altria billions of dollars as Juul faced an increasing number of legal battles over the alleged health risks of its products and alleged marketing to underage consumers—problems that the plaintiffs say Altria knew about at the time of the investment but ignored.
The value of Altria’s investment has declined steadily as Juul Labs faced litigation and increased regulatory scrutiny.
The plaintiffs argued for approval of the settlement, saying the recovery is fair and reasonable when weighed against the costs and risks of further litigation. U.S. District Judge David J. Novak did not explain why he considered the settlement inadequate.
A new report from Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) has found that vaping has reached record levels in Great Britain with an estimated 4.3 million people being active vapers.
The data, shared exclusively with the PA news agency, suggests that 8.3 percent of adults in England, Wales and Scotland vape, according to the Glasgow Evening Times.
Ten years ago the number was 1.7 percent (an estimated 800,000 people).
ASH stated that a “vaping revolution” has taken place over the last decade. Of the 4.3 million current vapers, around 2.4 million are ex-smokers, 1.5 million are current smokers and 350,000 have never smoked a cigarette, according to the report.
The figures also show that the proportion of current e-cigarette users who have never smoked has increased from 4.9 percent last year to 8.1 percent this year. In 2022, 35 percent of current vapers also smoked, according to the report.
The report, based on a YouGov survey of more than 13,000 adults from across Great Britain, found that 28 percent of current smokers had never tried an e-cigarette, with 10 percent of this group saying they were “concerned e-cigarettes are not safe enough.”
A third of adults said they believe that vaping is more, or equally as harmful, as smoking. One in five former smokers said they used a vape to help them quit. However, more than half (56 percent) of current vapers who are ex-smokers said they had been vaping for more than three years.
Vapers reported that the main reason they used e-cigarettes were for quitting smoking, to prevent them from returning to smoking and 14 percent said they used vapes “because they enjoy it.”
Most vapers reported using refillable tank systems but the report points to a rise in disposable e-cigarettes – up from 2.3 percent of vapers using these in 2021 to 15 percent this year. The authors suggested that younger adults are driving the increase in the disposable vapes, with 48 percent of 18 to 24-year-old vapers use a disposable device.
“Over the last decade we’ve seen a vaping revolution take hold,” said Hazel Cheeseman, deputy chief executive of ASH. “There are now five times as many vapers as there were in 2012, with millions having used them as part of a quit attempt.
“However, they haven’t worked for everyone. Just under half of smokers who have tried them have stopped using them and 28 percent have never tried one at all. Government has said that a ‘vaping revolution’ will help them meet their ambition for a smoke-free country by 2030 but it won’t be enough – we need a comprehensive plan that will help all smokers.”
Earlier this year a separate report from ASH concluded that the proportion of children vaping is on the rise, with many being influenced by social media sites such as TikTok. While it is illegal to sell vapes to under-18s, the proportion of children aged 11 to 17 currently vaping has jumped from 4 percent in 2020 to 7 percent in 2022.
Ash started its annual survey, Smokefree GB, in 2010.
So Soul, the rapidly rising vapor brand that began in China in early 2021, has now gone global.
By Timothy S. Donahue
Luna Wang wanted to do something different. She was seeing the products that the vapor industry was offering in early 2021, and she could tell that the industry was changing. Disposable devices were becoming the most popular products to help combustible cigarette smokers quit, but the available devices didn’t offer the same flavor or vaping experience that one could get from an open system. Luna Wang wanted to create something better.
Wang has been in the vaping industry for eight years through various projects. In mid-2021, Wang joined forces with another experienced vapor industry entrepreneur, Peter Zhang. Both also had previous experience working with Fortune 500 companies. Together, they started the So Soul brand in Shenzhen, China, the global capital of e-cigarette manufacturing.
So Soul soon entered the Chinese market, where more than 300 million smokers reside, and quickly found success. While the company also produces refillable pod products, it was its disposable products that really began to boost So Soul’s sales.
“So Soul is a creative and dynamic vape brand which believes that innovation could bring freedom of the soul. So Soul has been a maverick and an unconventional company from the beginning,” said Lisa Li, head of media relations for So Soul. “Our founder, Luna, and the rest of the company’s employees are often considered dreamers. We believe that you shouldn’t have to compromise style for substance.”
So Soul began because its creators believed something was missing in the market. Aside from a device’s appearance, aroma and flavor were two areas that Wang and Zhang felt were lacking in the Chinese vaping industry. The company founded its own research and development laboratory, staffed by the world’s top experts in the field, to develop products that could meet Wang’s high standards.
“Our line of products offers smokers and vapers alike a range of flavors that are rich, smooth and satisfying. Our designs are inspired by the latest trends in fashion, and we’re always looking for new ways to stand out from the crowd,” said Wang. “Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned vaper, we’ve got something for everyone.”
The company devotes 60 percent of its profits to R&D in an effort to always be improving. It wants its products to stand out for their “combination of style, substance and soul,” explains Wang. “We are dedicated to providing our customers with products that are not only stylish and cutting-edge but also made with the highest quality ingredients and backed by extensive research and development.”
During World Vape Expo Dubai, Wang told Vapor Voice that So Soul has perfected the art of flavor creation, and subtle “fragrances are at the heart of our products.” To accomplish the feat, Wang said that So Soul employs a team of expert mixologists that have years of experience in tobacco product development, and the company only uses the finest ingredients to create its unique flavor blends.
“Our designs are inspired by the latest trends in fashion, and we’re always looking for new ways to stand out from the crowd. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned vaper, we’ve got something for everyone,” said Wang. “In a short space of time, we have already become one of the most popular brands in China. And now we’re bringing our products to the world. We strive to always be at the forefront of the latest technology. Our factory in Shenzhen employs over 1,000 professionals who share our commitment to quality and innovation.”
An estimated 3 million customers worldwide have tried So Soul’s products. The company prides itself on being a one-stop-shop for all vapers from beginners to advanced nicotine consumers. Wang said that So Soul product users are stylish, creative and aim to present a safer, cheaper alternative to smoking cigarettes. So Soul offers vaping devices with an advanced mesh coil system and that range in volume from 2 mL to 5 mL of nicotine-based e-liquid.
The company also offers devices that deliver from 600-plus puffs to 10,000 puffs, from bars to boxes and from sleek transparent design styles to designs with exquisitely crafted textures. Although disposable vapes are So Soul’s primary focus currently, Li said the company also provides refillable pod mod devices on demand for its customers.
“So Soul also provides users with a wide range of flavors that are refreshing, sweet, savory and everything in between from Watermelon Ice, Mixed Berry Ice, Blueberry Ice, Spearmint, Blue Razz Lemonade, to Lemon Strawberry Pie, Pineapple Banana Coconut, Strawberry Watermelon Bubblegum, etc.,” said Wang. “There’s something for everyone. We expect to be responsible for offering the best vaping products to vapers at home and abroad and for pushing the entire industry forward.”
Currently, So Soul’s products are sold globally in North America, Europe and Asia. The So Soul XC650 (Vibe), Y650 (Box) and S600 (Peak) are some of the most popular devices in the U.K. and European Union, according to Li. Since So Soul X7000 and Y10000 were launched in early 2022, they have been growing a massive market presence and have become popular in the U.S. and Middle East markets, particularly.
While it depends on how heavily someone vapes and how often they use the device, typically, a So Soul device lasts longer than 92.3 percent of the disposable vape pods in the market, lending to the brand’s popularity. One popular vape reviewer stated that the So Soul X7000 is one of the best disposable vaping devices on the market.
“The retro look really sets them apart from other disposables but, of course, that’s not the only reason why you should consider them,” the reviewer stated. “The flavors that I tried are all very enjoyable to vape on, and that’s only three out of the 20 that they offer, so there’s plenty more to choose from if the flavors that I tried aren’t quite to your liking.
“The tight MTL draw is certainly not what I expected, but it was a pleasant surprise. The draw is similar to a cigarette, and that’s going to be a big plus for anyone looking to use these to quit smoking. Add to the fact that these provide a very satisfying draw and up to 7,000 puffs, and you get a great value for your money.”
One of the major challenges for building the So Soul brand is the varying rules for vapor products from country to country, according to Wang. Regulations in the vaping industry are constantly changing and evolving in nearly every country where e-cigarettes are sold. Those regulatory rules include everything from raising the minimum legal sales age for e-cigarettes in many countries from 18 to 21 and federal, state and local restrictions on flavored e-cigarettes as well as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently being given the authority to regulate synthetic products.
Many countries, like China for example, have even unveiled technical standards for e-cigarettes that will go soon go into effect. In a public document, in April, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation listed the requirements for design, chemical compounds and the mechanics for e-cigarettes that domestic manufacturers must meet in order to sell their products.
“In addition to staying current on the laws governing the industry, we will keep up to date on the relevant scientific literature concerning the use of vaping products,” said Wang. “We may also consult with independent external scientific and medical experts to lead technology and ingredients innovation, so that we can fulfill our mission of helping people have easy access to affordable, safe and effective alternatives to traditional cigarettes.”
So Soul’s mission is to promote less risky options for the global tobacco industry. So Soul and its team members are working toward helping create a smoke-free future. Moving forward, she said that the vaping industry is constantly evolving, and So Soul will remain at the forefront of innovation.
“We have a passion for what we do, and it shows in our products. So Soul is more than just a brand—it’s a lifestyle. It’s about being confident, feeling good and living life to the fullest,” said Wang. “So Soul is style, substance … soul. The perfect vape for those who want it all.”
A recently accepted manuscript of an article set for publication in Nicotine & Tobacco Research found that flavored vaping and other tobacco sales restrictions in California did not affect youth e-cigarette use.
Karl Abramson, writing for American for Tax Reform (ATR), says that the findings are prominent because proponents of flavor bans claim that flavored vaping products are the cause of youth vaping, and therefore must be banned.
Researchers analyzed data from the California Healthy Kids Survey to look at e-cigarette use among high-school students in the California Bay Area.
They compared changes in e-cigarette use between 2018 and 2019 among students attending school in a city with a flavored e-cigarette ban and student attending school in a city without a flavor ban.
The researchers concluded that flavored vape bans “did not significantly change” the odds of current and ever e-cigarette use among students.
Local flavor bans in California “were not associated with a change” in e-cigarette use, meaning that the policies that were intended to decrease youth vaping did not accomplish that goal.
“Flavored vape bans are proven to have drastically negative consequences for public health, state finances, and national security,” writes Abramson. According to a study from Yale University researcher Abigail Friedman, a flavor ban in San Francisco led to chances of youth smoking more than doubling.
“Because flavors are essential for adults trying to quit smoking, flavor bans prevent adults from making the lifesaving switch,” he stated. “State finances are impacted by flavor bans as well, like in Massachusetts where a ban on flavored vaping and tobacco products is costing the state an estimated $10 million each month.
“Flavor bans prevent these lives from being saved and are shown to have no impact on youth use. Flavor prohibition is entirely the wrong approach for lawmakers to take with novel reduced-risk nicotine products.”
