Tag: UKVIA

  • UKVIA Launches Vape Recycling Information Hub

    UKVIA Launches Vape Recycling Information Hub

    The U.K. Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has announced that it is launching a new web-based information hub, as well as a special Sustainable Vaping Week campaign during October, designed to get vapers, the vaping industry and those outlets that sell vapes to act now for the benefit of the environment.

    While the sector is making progress in limiting its impact on the environment, including the development of more recyclable product innovations and the introduction of collection schemes, a recent report by Material Focus highlights that some 5 million single use vapes are thrown away each week, according to a UKVIA release.

    The new resource hub and week-long campaign will provide vapers with information on the dos and don’ts of recycling single use vapes as well as access to locations where they can dispose of their devices in an environmentally considerate way. Retailers and other outlets, such as pubs and clubs, will also be able to download educational resources to educate their customers about recycling single use vapes across the week and throughout the year.

    There will also be guidance provided for those responsible for producing, importing, distributing and selling vape devices to ensure they are operating legally at all times when it comes to meeting environmental regulations and are working closely and effectively with reputable waste management companies.

    “There have been calls for the banning of single use vapes in part due to their environmental impact,” said John Dunne, director general of the UKVIA. “However, a ban is not the answer—firstly disposable vapes are proven to be hugely effective in getting smokers to switch from their habits to considerably less harmful vapes, due to their ease of use, convenience and low entry price points. They are the main reason why smoking is currently at record low levels across the U.K. In addition, through the collective efforts of a range of stakeholders, we can reverse the current impact on the environment arising from vapers throwing them away.

    “The initiatives we are announcing will play a key role in this process by educating vapers about how they can play a critical role in being environmentally considerate when disposing of their vapes. They will also give much needed guidance to the vaping industry and other sectors, such as hospitality and general retail, about what they need to be doing to support the collection of vape waste, thereby enabling significantly higher recycling rates than we are currently seeing for these devices.”

    The Sustainable Vaping Week will take place beginning Oct. 16, following International E-Waste Day on Oct. 14. The resource hub will become a permanent source of information on vaping and the environment.

    The UKVIA will be providing a range of content for all of its members and the wider industry to promote and share via their offline and online retail stores as well as through their communications channels to educate vapers about how they can make a positive difference to the environment as a result of changing their throwaway behaviors.

  • New Global Vape Alliance to Boost Unity in Industry

    New Global Vape Alliance to Boost Unity in Industry

    Photo IEVA

    A new Global Vape Alliance has been announced at the InterTabac Trade Fair in Dortmund, Germany, alongside a declaration to foster collaboration, promote responsible practices and champion the cause of harm reduction in the vaping industry.

    The Global Vape Alliance brings together major international vaping bodies including the Electronic Cigarette Industry Committee of the China Electronics Chamber of Commerce (ECCC), the U.S. Vapor Technology Association (VTA), the U.K. Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) and the Independent European Vape Alliance (IEVA).

    The declaration aims to underscore the power of unity within the vaping industry. By coming together under its umbrella, industry leaders will commit to effecting responsible and positive change on a global scale, thereby signifying a new era in the industry’s dedication to public health, environmental sustainability and the well-being of smokers seeking alternatives to traditional tobacco products.

    Key highlights of the Global Vape Alliance declaration include:

    • Regulatory Compliance: The alliance will facilitate the sharing of best practices to ensure member companies adhere to existing laws, regulations and industry standards, with a strong focus on responsible marketing and protecting youth.
    • Industry Promotion: The alliance aims to elevate the vaping industry’s professionalism, importance and sustainability by fostering communication among industry stakeholders and encouraging technological innovation.
    • Public Health: Emphasizing harm reduction, the alliance will actively promote the adoption of vaping products among conventional smokers to reduce harm, while openly providing information about their impact on physical health.
    • Environment Protection: In pursuit of a greener future, the alliance will advocate for eco-friendly strategies, promote recycling, low-carbon design and urge compliance with environmental laws.

    Our goal is clear—to make a significant impact on public health, support those looking to quit smoking and contribute to a sustainable, environmentally friendly future.

    Dustin Dahlmann, president, IEVA

    The Global Vape Alliance firmly believes that unity and cooperation within the vaping industry can lead to a world without smoking.

    “Our goal is clear—to make a significant impact on public health, support those looking to quit smoking and contribute to a sustainable, environmentally friendly future. With this declaration, we are combining the international forces of the industry to achieve important goals for the benefit of consumers,” said Dustin Dahlmann, president of the IEVA.

    “The signing of the declaration, as I believe, will guide the global vaping industry to the future of healthy development and prosperity. In this regard, ECCC will continue to deepen the cooperation with other partners,” said ECCC Secretary-General Will Ao.

    “The vaping sector is entering a critical chapter in its history with increased scrutiny from policy makers, regulators, public health officials, academics and campaigners,” said John Dunne, director general of the UKVIA. “It has to stand up and be counted, show strong leadership and the greatest levels of responsibility. The launch of the Global Vape Alliance and the declaration sets out to show the world that we are committed to best standards, practices and above all making smoking history.”

    “Despite the enormous body of science that has declared vaping nicotine dramatically safer than smoking, the vapor industry’s detractors around the globe push a dramatically misinformed narrative,” said Tony Abboud, executive director of the VTA. “Declaring a shared commitment to furthering sound science, truthful information, and a commitment to meaningful regulations, industry leaders around the world can better serve companies and, more importantly, millions of consumers using vaping products to reduce and/or quit smoking cigarettes.”

    For more information about the Global Vape Alliance declaration, please visit the Global Vaping Alliance website.

  • U.K. Lawmakers Consider Ban on Single-Use Vapes

    U.K. Lawmakers Consider Ban on Single-Use Vapes

    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.”

    Simon Clark, director, Forest

    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.

    John Dunne, Director General, UKVIA

    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.

  • UKVIA Separates Itself From Tobacco Firm Funding

    UKVIA Separates Itself From Tobacco Firm Funding

    British American Tobacco, Imperial Brands, Japan Tobacco International and Philip Morris International are no longer members of the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) the organization has announced.

    In a statement from the UKVIA, the industry advocacy group states that it will no longer include any tobacco companies within its membership. It also will not be accepting any new applications for membership by vaping businesses wholly or part owned or acquired by tobacco companies moving forward.

    The trade body states that “the interests of the industry would be best served by the association being independent of any involvement or funding from tobacco-owned vaping brands”.

    It hopes to dispel “misconceptions” that the group is funded largely by tobacco companies and to overcome any potential restrictions tobacco companies may face when engaging with key stakeholders in the move to smokefree, according to media reports.

    “In representing vaping-only businesses, many of which are independent firms founded on the back of personal loss of family members as a result of smoking combustible cigarettes, the UKVIA wants to be fully engaged with key stakeholders across the board as we have the same vision, which is to make smoking history,” the release states. “The association sees this as being a vital step in ensuring that the public health potential of vaping is fully realized and the sector making its fullest contribution to the delivery of the smoke free targets over the next few years to 2030.”

  • UKVIA Announces Annual Forum and Awards Dinner

    UKVIA Announces Annual Forum and Awards Dinner

    Photo: UKVIA

    The U.K. Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) annual Forum and Industry Recognition Awards Dinner will take place at the QEII Centre in London on Nov. 10, 2023.

    Under the theme, “Accelerating Action to Secure a World Without Smoking,” the event will feature sessions focusing on harm reduction, illicit trade and sustainability, among other topics.

    Secretary General of the China Electronic Chamber of Commerce Ao Weinuo will be giving a keynote presentation on China’s commitment to change. Also included on the conference agenda is a dialogue on the upcoming general election, which will explore how the U.K. industry should prepare for a possible change in government and will ask how to retain the existing “parliamentary momentum” around vaping.

    “We have, and I’m confident will continue to, make significant strides in putting forward the harm reduction benefits of vaping on the political front, but it’s no secret the landscape could soon shift and we need to be prepared,” said UKVIA Director-General John Dunne in a statement.

    Following the forum, the UKVIA will host its  annual Industry Recognition Awards dinner.

    According to Dunne, the awards are an opportunity to recognize the “outstanding contributions and achievements” of individuals and organizations both inside and outside the industry.

    Last year, 500 delegates and guests attended the UKVIA Forum and Awards. This year’s event is expected to attract an equally high number of visitors.

  • UK Councils Call for Disposable Vape Ban by 2024

    UK Councils Call for Disposable Vape Ban by 2024

    Credit: Iama Sing

    Councils in England and Wales have called on the UK government to ban the sale of single-use vapes by 2024 on both environmental and health grounds.

    The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents councils in England and Wales, said it was crucial a ban came into effect rapidly, as with the European Union proposing a ban in 2026 and France rolling out a ban in December this year, there was a risk that as markets close disposable vapes could flood into the UK, according to Reuters.

    “Disposable vapes are fundamentally flawed in their design and inherently unsustainable products, meaning an outright ban will prove more effective than attempts to recycle more vapes,” David Fothergill, chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said.

    The UK Vaping Industry Association defended disposable vapes.

    “Disposables have been around for well over a decade and provide a low-priced accessible product that helps smokers to quit smoking tobacco,” John Dunne, the association’s director general told BBC radio on Saturday.

    The LGA said 1.3 million disposable vapes were thrown away every week. They were a hazard for waste and litter collection and caused fires in bin lorries.

    It said single-use vapes were designed as one unit so batteries cannot be separated from the plastic, making them almost impossible to recycle without going through special treatment.

    The LGA said councils were also concerned about the impact vaping was having on children and young people.

  • UK Pediatricians Call for Ban on Disposable Vapes

    UK Pediatricians Call for Ban on Disposable Vapes

    The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) in the UK has called for a ban on disposable e-cigarettes, stating that vapor products can be just as addictive as traditional cigarettes, according to Metro.

    “Since e-cigarettes have only been on sale in the UK since 2007, long-term studies don’t yet exist,” the RCPCH said. “We have even less evidence on the long-term impacts of these products on young lungs, hearts and brains.

    “It took experts decades to fully understand the impact of traditional cigarettes; we cannot risk our children’s health in waiting this long again for longer-term studies.”

    Action on Smoking and Health data found that there has been a 50 percent increase in UK kids trying vaping over the last year and a rise in experimental vaping among 11-year-olds to 17-year-olds.

    “Without a doubt, disposable e-cigarettes should be banned,” said Mike McKean. “There is absolutely no reason that these cheap, readily available, brightly colored, recreational products should be single use.

    “Westminster’s approach to this problem is out of step with even our closest neighbors, with countries such as Scotland, France, Germany and Ireland all seriously considering a ban.”

    In response to the RCPCH’s call, the U.K. Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) stated that while youth vaping needs to be addressed, banning disposables is not the answer.

    “There is no doubt that strong, targeted action directed at those illegally selling vape products to children is the way forward,” said John Dunne, director general of the UKVIA, in a statement. “Vitally, any youth prevention measures cannot be to the detriment of adult smokers looking to quit through vaping and vapers who want to avoid a return to smoking.”

  • British Poll Reveals ‘Trust Gap’ In Vaping Harm

    British Poll Reveals ‘Trust Gap’ In Vaping Harm

    Photo: Taco Tuinstra

    There is a major trust gap in vaping among smokers, with over half now believing they’re just as harmful as cigarettes or more harmful than cigarettes.

    The poll of 2,000 smokers revealed a growing distrust in switching to vapes. Nearly 38 percent who lack trust, say it could stop them from attempting to quit their smoking habits through vaping in the future.

    The government’s independent Kahn Review said vaping had a central role to play in a smokefree future across the country, with more than 6.5 million people still smoking in the U.K. And evidence last year by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) re-confirmed that vaping was at least 95 percent less harmful than smoking.

    But according to the Adult Smokers Trust in Vaping study conducted by One Poll and commissioned by SMOORE, pioneers in inhalation technology, 29 percent only trust vaping a little as a method to quit smoking, whilst 13 percent do not trust it at all.

    And of those whose trust is diminishing, 35 percent cite the lack of independent long term clinical research showing vaping to be less harmful than smoking. While 31 percent are concerned about the lack of any information available about the harm profile of different vape products.  Other factors that had caused a lack of trust included: negative reports and studies that smokers had come across, inconsistency of government attitudes across the world towards vaping, the growing black market for vapes, and the view of the World Health Organization on vaping.

    “There’s a major push to get smokers to move to vape products, but as of now, they just do not have all the information they need to make an informed decision to switch,” said Chenxing Pei, a senior aerosol engineer at the Smoore Centre for Analysis, Testing, and Safety Assessment, in a press release publish by the U.K. Vaping Industry Association.

    “It’s vital smokers are confident enough to switch, especially since health minister Neil O’Brien said the government must ‘exploit the huge potential of vaping to help adult smokers to quit.’

    “But reducing or quitting is incredibly difficult, it’s imperative to give them the belief that what they are attempting isn’t going to be a waste of time.

    “And if vaping is to be viewed as a credible way to quit, urgent efforts need to be made to ensure smokers trust these products to have the desired impact.”

    The research also revealed how trust among these smokers could be regained, with 30 percent claiming public health campaigns promoting the evidence-based facts could turn the tide. Better education of doctors to give more advice on how vaping can be an effective way to reduce harm caused by smoking, was cited as another key way to build trust.

    Meanwhile, 21 percent would welcome advertising regulations for vaping companies to be lifted—as long as they are promoting evidence from credible sources.

    But confusion persists among 68 percent of smokers when it comes to understanding which products would be suitable to help quit. And 70 percent now “don’t know who to believe” when it comes to vape products.

    Three quarters of smokers want information to be made available on the harm profile of the vape product at the point of purchase. With 87 percent of these saying it is important to know exactly what it is you are inhaling. Many are looking for clarification about the chemical constituents (60 percent), carbon residues (46 percent) and heavy metal content (44 percent) in their vapes.

    However, of those who smoke and vape, 74 percent initially started to reduce their reliance on cigarettes, with 58 percent of these claiming they were successful.

    The study coincides with Smoore establishing an independent think tank of scientific, smoking cessation and compliance experts from the U.K. and U.S. to lay the foundations for an industry-wide harm reduction rating system that can be communicated to consumers on product packaging or accessed via a QR code.

    “The concept of tobacco harm reduction is not widely understood by smokers, and there are widespread misperceptions regarding the relative safety of vaping products compared with cigarette smoking among the general public,” said Ian Fearon, one of the experts on the panel, who has previously worked for Juul Labs and BAT in senior scientific and clinical roles.

    “The development of a harm reduction label may help smokers to understand the reduced risk potential of vaping and encourage switching, in addition to reassuring vapers regarding the quality of the products they use and allowing them to differentiate between different products.

    “Government statistics last year showed that the proportion of smokers in the U.K. was at its lowest level since records begun, a decline which was attributed largely to the major role played by vapes.

    “However, the findings of this study, highlight a significant trust gap amongst adult smokers and it’s crucial for the vaping industry, government, regulators and healthcare professionals to come together to bridge it and support smokers on their quitting journey.

    “It’s clear that open and transparent communication is essential in this process and to supporting the government’s ambitions for the country to go smokefree.”

    Click here to view the report

  • Sustainability is Focus of new UKVIA Action Plan

    Sustainability is Focus of new UKVIA Action Plan

    Credit: Vege Fox

    The U.K. Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has published a comprehensive “Greenprint for Sustainable Vaping” following an industry-wide consultation.

    The development of the green action plan was realized with input from leading players in the waste industry, regulators, the retail sector, vape manufacturers and experts in consumer behavior. It comes as the industry has faced increased scrutiny regarding the environmental impact of vapes, particularly single-use products known as disposables.

    “Whilst entry-level single-use devices are responsible for record numbers of adult smokers switching to vaping due [to] their ease of use and convenience, the industry realizes that much more must be done to safeguard against their impact on the environment,” said UKVIA CEO John Dunne. “The fact is that disposables have been around for a while but have become hugely popular in the last couple of years, particularly with those on low incomes who are amongst the most prevalent smokers.

    “The Greenprint aims to mobilize environmental action to support a sustainable vaping sector in the future. It covers the development of recycling infrastructure, which is fit for the vaping industry, new vape innovations that make products more recyclable and reusable as well as the support that needs to be put in place to encourage greater retailer and consumer participation in the environmentally conscious disposal of vape products.”

  • Broughton Joins UKVIA, Launches Compliance Package

    Broughton Joins UKVIA, Launches Compliance Package

    Broughton has joined the U.K. Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) as the 2023 vaping awareness month, VApril, kicks off. Nveed Chaudhary, chief scientific and regulatory officer at Broughton, attended a meeting of industry experts at the Houses of Parliament to encourage more regulatory rigor in applying U.K. vape regulation to protect consumers, according to a press release. The event provided a platform for key stakeholders to discuss the current state of the vaping industry and explore ways to improve public health outcomes.

    “Recent compliance issues with some manufacturers could impact consumer trust in vapes in the U.K.,” said John Dunne, UKVIA director. “Quality control and analytical testing experts Broughton joining UKVIA at this time illustrates the importance of product quality and safety to ensuring the continued transition of smokers away from cigarettes.

    “At UKVIA, we believe vapes have a key role to play in helping reduce death and disease caused by smoking. Ensuring vape safety is of the utmost importance to us and our members, and as a group, we’re advocating for stronger action against noncompliant vapes. This should include faster removal of noncompliant products, complete testing of products and greater penalties for manufacturers and retailers who break the rules.”

    Broughton has also introduced a new U.K. and European Union Vape Compliance Package to help address concerns about vape regulatory compliance. The service will focus on labeling, packaging, nicotine strength, fill volume and banned ingredients.

    Manufacturers, distributors and retailers who use the compliance package will receive a Certificate of Analysis that verifies their products’ compliance with current U.K. or EU regulations.