In 2022, environmental issues have come to the forefront more than ever. Many smokers and vapers are concerned about how their routines and product consumption is negatively impacting nature and earth’s fragile ecosystems. However, there are a variety of ways vapers can consume conscientiously and reduce the footprint and environmental impact of their vaping. Here are our top 8 methods…
- Ditch the Cigarettes Completely
According to National Geographic, 6.5 trillion cigarettes are purchased every year, worldwide. 267 billion cigarettes are smoked per year in the U.S. alone. This has led to the unbelievably high amount of individual cig butts polluting the oceans, a number estimated at 4.5 trillion. This means there are more cigarette butts floating in the oceans than bottles, plastic bags, or straws.
It is also a common misconception that cigarettes are biodegradable. In fact, they are made from cellulose acetate rather than paper. This man-made plastic takes around 10 years to biodegrade, yikes! Unlike plastic waste from vaping products, these butts contain all the harmful chemicals found in smoke including arsenic, lead, formaldehyde, cadmium, copper, and more. Quite simply, transitioning to vaping from smoking is a step up from this for the environment.
- Choose Reusable Vape Devices
Disposable vapes may be convenient and affordable, but their short life span means you will be throwing away batteries consistently. Upgrading to a quality rechargeable vape device will reduce your waste AND enhance your experience.
Another reason to switch from disposables is because they contain both nicotine and a battery in the same device, making them more problematic to recycle. High quality mods, on the other hand, feature a separate lithium ion battery which is designed to have a long lifespan.
- Choose Larger, Refillable Tanks
Larger format tanks and pods are preferable to smaller, single use cartridges. Using quality plastic or glass pods/tanks will reduce the amount of vape waste you produce. Devices with replaceable coils and mesh have an even longer lifespan and will result in lower waste production.
It is crucial to be mindful when disposing of vape batteries to make sure they are recycled and handled correctly. Once a vape is used, seal the device and dispose of it within 90 days.
Alternatively, you can return the vape battery to the supplier for recycling. Under the WEEE legislation, vape sellers are obliged to accept returned used batteries and dispose of them in an eco-friendly manner.
- Dispose of Vape Batteries Correctly
Check local resources for hazard waste collection sites. Many areas have local battery recycling facilities.
With disposable devices, keep in mind that while some can be recycled to a standard battery recycling center, other devices must be separated into various components which need to be handled separately.
- Dispose of E-Liquid Correctly
Vape liquid can be toxic to wildlife. When disposing of it, do not rinse it down the sink as it may contaminate water. Make sure to keep it away from children and pets.
An easy option to avoid vape juice waste is to share unused e-liquid with a friend. Another way to reduce its negative environmental impact is to mix it with an absorbent like sawdust, wood chips or kitty litter to soak up the vape juice. Then seal it in a biodegradable bag and place it in a secure garbage can.
- Dispose of Vape Cartridges Correctly
It can be trickier to determine how to recycle e-liquid cartridges since they contain both plastic and nicotine. Some sources say e-liquid carts can’t be recycled since they contain nicotine and others say they can if they are cleansed with soap and water first. Because of this conflicting information, it is important to check your local laws and regulations to understand the protocol.
Another option is to go with brands who produce biodegradable, sustainable cartridges. Do a bit of extra research to go with brands who are thinking ahead.
- Reduce Power Consumption
This one is just common sense, turn off your device when it’s not in use. This will use less electricity and increase your device’s longevity. In addition, consider mouth-to-lung vaping instead of direct lung vaping, as it uses less power and resources like e-liquid and coils.
- Reduce E-Liquid Consumption
You can actually reduce vape juice consumption by choosing high strength vape juice like nic salts. If you have much potent e-juice, you’ll go through it less quickly and reduce your environmental vape footprint.
So there you have it! 8 ways to vape in an eco-friendly manner and do your part to help the environment. We hope this article was helpful, but if you have any additional questions, feel free to contact our support team. We look forward to hearing from you!
