Vape producer ANDS says it has created a 99% plus recyclable and recoverable single-use e-cigarette, and announced Morrisons will stock it in 1,500 UK Morrisons Daily stores and supermarkets.
The vape, known as SLIX, features an outer casing made of 100% recyclable high-grade cardboard, with a biodegradable silicone mouthpiece and end piece, ANDS says.
The announcement comes after analysis conducted by Material Focus indicated that 90% of the smaller vape and vape juice producers in the UK seem to be failing to comply with environmental regulations.
The analysis also said larger vape producers and importers, who have only recently registered, are not covering the true costs of collection and recycling as vapes are falling under normal small electricals rather than their own special category.
Last year (2022), environmental and health groups issued an open letter to the environment and health secretaries calling on the government to ban the sale of single-use e-cigarettes.
However, ANDS says SLIX has been independently tested by vape waste firm Waste Experts, a wholly owned subsidiary of the electrical wholesaler City Electrical Factors (CEF), to verify its recyclability credentials.
In tests, the product was found to be 99.29% recyclable and recoverable and to create 70% less waste by weight compared to the same leading brand, ANDS says.
Commenting on the announcement, Dr Marina Murphy, Senior Director of Scientific and Medical Affairs at ANDS, said: “While the analysis carried out by Waste Experts suggests that our single-use vape is highly recyclable, we will continue to work towards zero waste.
“We aim to build a high rate of recyclability into all our products, by using high-quality recyclable materials and simple construction that allows for highly efficient dismantling.
We aim to build a high rate of recyclability into all our products.
“This contributes to a fast, efficient overall recycling process, which reduces waste management costs. This in turn helps to keep product prices competitive, creating a win-win for the environment and adult consumers who value our products.”
ANDS is also partnering with Waste Experts to create a recycling programme that will aim to simplify the process of collection and recycling.
Fadi Maayta, President of ANDS, commented: “We’re very much on a journey and by the end of this year we hope to launch a 100% recyclable and recoverable version of SLIX, which will reduce the tonnage of waste going to landfill even further.
“If these single-use vapes are restricted or banned over environmental fears as is being talked about in some circles – smokers could lose what many believe to be a very convenient, accessible and compelling alternative to conventional cigarettes.”
