The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has launched its ‘Greenprint for Sustainable Vaping’ outlining steps to help tackle the environmental impact of single-use vape products.
At its virtual summit last week, it said while disposables were responsible for “record numbers” of adult smokers switching to vapes, the summit’s participants were unanimous that much more must be done to protect the environment.
“The Greenprint for Sustainable Vaping aims to mobilise environmental action to support a sustainable vaping sector. It will include recommendations on creating a national recycling and waste treatment capability fit for the vape industry, driving new vape innovations that make products easier to recycle and reuse, and supporting greater retailer and consumer participation in the recycling and reuse of vape products,” said UKVIA director general John Dunne.
He added the clear message from the summit was that there is more education needed both from consumer and industry perspectives.
“It is important for regulators, the industry and those dealing with the recycling and environmental aspects of this issue, to all come together to seek a common solution because this problem is not going to go away without action,” he explained. “We found a great deal of common ground at this summit and the focus now must be on ensuring that all importers, manufacturers and retailers of vaping products step up to the plate and ensure they are compliant with all environmental obligations. If they don’t, they are committing a criminal offence.”
Adam Afriyie MP, vice chair of the all-party parliamentary group for vaping, said how the industry has helped to “secure the health of the nation’. He added it was now vital that action was taken to lessen the impact of single-use vapes on the environment.
The Windsor MP explained: “Vaping has already saved so many lives in the UK that is has become part of the healthcare industry and now it must come together to find a sustainable solution for disposing of these vape products and prevent the naysayers from undermining an industry that has probably saved more lives than any other modern innovation in the history of our country.”
Over 90% of vape producers are failing to meet eco regulations
Delegates were also told that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was currently reforming the Regulations Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) which may see vapes given its own separate category, partly in response to the rise in demand for single-use devices.
More details will be published shortly and a formal consultation is due to be held before the summer. Companies in the vape sector were advised to ensure that they are fully compliant with regulations and must not wait until the outcome of the current review to do so.
Elsewhere, it was bought up that innovative solutions were required to encourage consumers to recycle more widely including educational campaigns, information being provided at point of sale, incentive schemes and establishing recycling points at locations where they were most likely to be used.
Innovation in product design to support more environmentally friendly vape products was another key discussion area.
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