The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has published a 22-point environmental action plan for the sector following an industry-wide consultation.
The UKVIA says the green action plan was developed with input from voices in the waste industry, regulators, the retail sector, vape manufacturers and experts in consumer behaviour.
The environmental action list includes actions for the retail sector, consumers, product design, waste infrastructure and regulatory and policy.
The action list recommends setting up recycling collection facilities at the point of use and not only point of sale. It continues that the vape industry and waste providers must work closely together to find a viable, long-term solution for disposing of and recycling products. The final recommendation for waste infrastructure is for the waste industry to design “simple and easy-to-use” vape recycling containers.
Amongst the action plan’s other recommendations is for packaging to highlight to consumers that vape devices must be recycled and not thrown away, for example, through the use of words such as “Recyclable” or “Recycle Me”.
It also says all relevant vape businesses should become compliant with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013 (WEEE regulations), Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007 and Packaging Waste (Data Reporting) Regulations 2023.
The Greenprint aims to mobilise environmental action to support a sustainable vaping sector in the future.
Commenting on the launch of the action plan, John Dunne, Director General, UKVIA, said: “The fact is that disposables have been around for a while but have become hugely popular in the last couple of years, particularly with those on low incomes who are amongst the most prevalent smokers.
“The Greenprint aims to mobilise environmental action to support a sustainable vaping sector in the future. It covers the development of recycling infrastructure which is fit for the vaping industry, new vape innovations that make products more recyclable and reusable, as well as the support that needs to be put in place to encourage greater retailer and consumer participation in the environmentally-conscious disposal of vape products.”