With public pressure mounting, the UK government is poised to prohibit the sale of disposable vapes nationwide. This decisive action aims to tackle escalating concerns over environmental waste and youth vaping addiction. (source)
Vocal advocates from local councils, pediatric groups, and sustainability organizations have urgently lobbied for a ban as disposable vape usage spins out of control. Let’s examine the issues propelling this prohibitive policy shift. Read more
At one point valued at an astonishing $38 billion, e-cigarette maker Juul seemed destined to transform the nicotine industry. But in one of the most stunning falls from grace in recent memory, the company now faces thousands of lawsuits and a decimated reputation.
Netflix’s new four-part documentary series Big Vape: The Rise and Fall of Juul chronicles the company’s meteoric ascent, followed by an equally rapid demise. Through extensive research and insider accounts, it constructs a cautionary tale of innovation without foresight. Read more
A prospective ban on disposable vapes in the United Kingdom has generated fierce debate between public health groups and the vaping industry. In response to concerning reports of an imminent government consultation to prohibit the sale of disposable e-cigarettes, a leading UK vaping trade association released a statement strongly rebutting the need for a ban and citing disposables’ proven value as smoking cessation tools. Read more
The Big E fair in Massachusetts attracts over 1 million annual attendees, and there are more than 86,000 people attended opening day of The Big E 2023. But with large crowds comes questions around smoking and vaping policies. Where are tobacco products prohibited on the fairgrounds? This guide covers the rules on smoking and vaping at The Big E.
While tobacco products are permitted on the premises, fair officials prohibit smoking inside all buildings and concert venues. This includes the Avenue of the States buildings and surrounding grounds. Read more
Health officials and cancer research organizations in Yorkshire, United Kingdom are strongly encouraging individuals who currently smoke traditional cigarettes to reduce their risk of developing cancer and improve overall health by swapping to vaping devices this September.
The effort is part of the National Health Service (NHS) Stoptober initiative’s new Swaptember campaign. The Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership has collaborated with Yorkshire Cancer Research on a regional basis to raise awareness of vaping as a significantly less harmful yet highly effective alternative to continuing tobacco smoking. Read more
This weekly report covers the key news in the global e-cigarette industry from September 1st to September 17th, 2022.
[1] According to data published by the US International Trade Commission in June 2023, in the first half of 2023, e-cigarettes imported to the US from China accounted for only 63.7%, while e-cigarettes from Indonesia took over 35% of the market share. This means Indonesia has surpassed other countries to become the second largest e-cigarette exporting country after China.
[2] According to a report by the Daily Telegraph in the UK, the Department of Health and Social Care plans to propose a ban on the sale of disposable e-cigarettes in an upcoming consultation, in an effort to prevent children from getting addicted to these devices. Government officials believe disposable e-cigarettes mainly target people under 18.
[3] A YouGov poll in the UK shows 7.7 million disposable e-cigarette products are sold each week in the country, which further raised concerns over the huge amount of plastic and battery waste generated.
[4] The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in the UK has banned four e-cigarette advertisements that appeared on the social media platform TikTok. The regulator ruled that all nicotine-containing e-cigarette ads are prohibited on social media unless they have obtained a medicinal license.
[5] German Environment Minister Steffi Lemke supports a ban on the sale of disposable e-cigarettes and hopes to impose a comprehensive ban on disposable e-cigarettes across the EU. However, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party opposes a total ban.
[6] E-cigarette brand VAPORESSO announced it has become the first registered e-cigarette brand approved for sale in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT).
[7] RELX Philippines plans to launch its disposable e-cigarette brand WAKA in 2024 to expand into more markets. It is reported that the product will be priced at around 550 Philippine pesos (about 64 RMB) and can be used for 10,000 puffs by consumers.
[8] KT&G plans to build a new factory in East Java, Indonesia, which will commence operation in 2026. It is reported this decision was made after reaching an agreement with the Indonesian Investment Coordinating Board.
[10] International tobacco giant Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) announced a new investment plan of over 1 billion zloty (about US$231 million) in Poland.
[11] The 2023 Inter-Tabac tobacco trade fair opened at 9am local time in Dortmund, Germany on September 14th. The exhibition is grand in scale, with over 700 enterprises participating, covering traditional tobacco, new tobacco, supply chain and other areas. 2cigs serves as the official media partner, conducting extensive on-site coverage of the exhibition.
[12] The Global Tobacco and Nicotine Forum 2023 (GTNF 2023) will be held in Seoul, South Korea from September 19th to 21st. GTNF is a global platform for the exchange of views and ideas between public health experts, government representatives, industry and investors. 2cigs will pay close attention to key speeches and provide coverage. Stay tuned.
The UK’s regulatory body has banned multiple vaping advertisements that appeared on TikTok despite violating the platform’s guidelines prohibiting such marketing.
Read moreA new study reveals the staggering amount of waste generated from disposable vapes in the United Kingdom. Research by the recycling advocacy group Material Focus found approximately 5 million disposable vapes are tossed in the trash each week across Britain. This reflects a fourfold increase over 2020 as these cheap, single-use vaping devices have rapidly gained popularity.
The data shows only 17% of vapers in the UK properly recycle their used disposable vape products in appropriate collection bins. The remaining millions of devices end up littering streets or overflowing landfills when not discarded correctly. These improperly disposed vaping units pose serious fire hazards due to their lithium batteries.
When mixed with regular household trash, the lithium batteries inside disposable vapes can combust and cause dangerous blazes in garbage trucks or waste management plants. Disposable vapes contain metal wiring and other valuable recyclable materials requiring special handling.
Read more: The Overlooked Environmental Impact of Disposable Vaping
Material Focus calculated that with 30 million disposable vapes purchased every month in the UK, the country accumulates over 600 million devices annually. If responsibly recycled, these units could provide useful battery components, like reclaiming lithium for approximately 5,000 electric vehicle batteries per year.
However, current recycling infrastructure in Britain cannot handle the flood of disposable vape waste. Proper recycling requires shops to provide dedicated bins with flame-retardant powder to mitigate fire risks. These receptacles are costly for retailers to implement nationwide. Experts estimate a comprehensive recycling program would cost £200 million per year across the UK.
The vaping industry acknowledges more progress is essential to manage disposable recycling. Top disposable brand Elfbar has pledged to install thousands of takeback points in retail outlets to simplify returning used vapes. But the breakneck market growth has hindered sustainability efforts.
UK government officials have expressed concerns about the environmental impact of throwaway vaping products. Some municipal councils are urging a total ban on disposables, mirroring proposals in Scotland, to tackle the waste crisis.
Clearly, bolstering recycling protocols and reducing disposable vape consumption remain pressing issues as these devices proliferate rapidly. Tossing disposables into normal rubbish passes the buck to future generations. The vaping community must take greater responsibility to avoid an environmental disaster.
The FDA recently released a downloadable one-page list of vaping products authorized for legal sale in the United States. Intended as a resource for retailers, the list purportedly includes “34 tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes and devices” granted marketing orders as of August 2023.
But a closer analysis reveals the actual number of unique, available vaping devices is much smaller. And the list’s categorization of certain products as “e-cigarettes” raises questions about consistency and transparency. Let’s break down what the FDA’s list really contains – and what it leaves out.
Read moreFrance recently announced plans to ban disposable vapes, known locally as “puffs”, as part of a wider initiative to reduce smoking rates. This has sparked discussion around disposables and their impacts. In this article, we’ll explore the proposed ban, disposable vape concerns, and potential effects.
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