How to be an eco-friendly vaper?

Over the years, we have seen many reports on not just the surface level litter that smoking produces but its deeper-seated impacts too. With cigarette filters being non-biodegradable and beholden in their robustness to millions of microplastics, it seems that the only solution for smokers to reduce their waste is to smoke without them. The clincher here is that without a filter, cigarettes are even more dangerous!

This is just one example of the problems that tobacco smoking is burdened with. The logical solution for both environmental and physical health is to give up the habit completely, and that’s where vaping comes in.

As a relatively young industry, not all the research is yet in on the long-term health impacts of vaping. That being said, it’s known to be far safer on this front than tobacco is. The research on the environment might take far longer to quantify but what e-liquid manufacturers in the UK do know and consumers should be that some effort is required to keep the industry environmentally friendly.

Like with all eco-friendly manufacturing industries, the waste output must be compared to resource input. Devices, e-liquids and batteries all have the potential to leave the planet in worse shape than before they were manufactured but the good news is that there are many ways in which you can offset your e-cig waste in a safe and carbon-neutral manner.

Below are just some of the solutions emerging in the vape industry, and whilst lobbying bodies such as the Tobacco Control Group are rightly pushing for more research into vaping’s environmental impact, there are still many things you can do to help reduce its effects.

Environmental Impact of The TPD Laws

The TPD Laws were introduced in 2016 as a way to regulate the quality of vape liquids and the amount of nicotine used in them. Due to the rules, vape tanks have been capped at 2 ml and e-liquid bottles containing nicotine at 10 ml in size. This has meant that, when incorporating plastic lids and packaging, more of this non-biodegradable material has to be used per unit, which amalgamates overall into more plastic production and therefore more pollution.

E-Liquid Bottle Recycling

To counter the need for more plastic production, which has resulted in the growing amount of wildlife damaging microplastics in oceans, you can buy from only the best vape liquid brands in the UK, whose plastic bottles are already made from recycled material. Furthermore, almost all plastic can be recycled, so make sure to dispose of your bottles with your other recyclable products or otherwise risk knowing they will end up lost in a landfill somewhere.

Buy Short Fills If You Can

Due to their lack of nicotine, short fills have become a great way to maximise the use of plastic. Larger bottles mean less plastic waste overall, so consider buying short fill bottles of up to 50 ml in size and adding your own nicotine solution to them.

Another option is to reuse bottles to reduce the amount of single-use plastic out there. Single-use plastic has had an extremely damaging effect on the environment, and recycling or reusing e-liquid bottles is just one way you can make a small difference.

The Implications Of E-Liquid

E-liquid can be extremely dangerous if ingested in the wrong way. There have been horror stories of children and animals mistaking bottles for food or drink and ending up in hospital. Further to this, the relative youth of the vape industry means that if e-liquid is poured down the sink, there’s little information on how it could affect water supplies.

Pour into A Recyclable Absorbent

When disposing of unwanted e-liquid, make sure to pour it into a recyclable absorbent, such as tissue, which you can then recycle. This will reduce the possibility of e-liquid, with its nicotine, flavourings, and chemical compounds, finding its way into water supplies.

Constituents of Vape Devices

The good news about vape device materials is that almost all their parts are recyclable. Glass, plastic and metal make up the broad amount of materials in a vape device, and so it’s only sensible that if you’re disposing of a broken vape device or old atomiser or coil, that you throw them out with your recycling rather than your landfill rubbish.

Best Products for Eco-Friendly Vaping

One product that can produce a lot of waste is the pod mod. Whilst they are great for first-time vapers, the discarded, single-use pods can add up to rather substantial waste. The same is even more true for single-use disposable vape devices, which require you to dispose of entire vape devices, after just a few days of use. For the eco-friendly vaper, the best bet is to invest in a tank-based device, or even a dripper, which discards the need for a plastic tank entirely.

Make sure to buy only the best locally brewed e-liquids as well. Whatever the e-liquid wholesale prices of your favourite vape juice, they will most likely be higher if imported from another country. If you want to lower your carbon footprint, then make sure to buy from local vape liquid producers. This will mean that the e-liquid will travel shorter distances to your doorstep, reducing energy and fuel consumption.

Vape Batteries

Vape batteries are one of the most problematic elements of vape devices due to their internal liquids being extremely hazardous. Corrosive acids and poisonous chemicals materials react with electricity to produce the energy that the battery runs on, and leaky ones can become a real problem if not discarded properly.

Battery Disposal

In recent years, shops, schools, and many other public areas have installed electronic and battery disposal bins. Whilst mainly focused on old phones and electronics, old vape batteries can be discarded here too. Make sure to turn your batteries off after using your vape device, and to only charge it when necessary. This will prolong the life of your vape device and its battery, reducing the amount of waste produced.