Taking care of our natural environment is important for everyone and vapers are no exception. But, how can we ensure that we’re vaping in an eco-friendly way?
Unfortunately, vaping doesn’t have the best eco-credentials. Disposable vapes and e-liquid bottles are often culprits of plastic pollution and batteries can potentially leak chemicals into landfill if not disposed of properly.
However, at Oxford Vapours, we know that there are ways that we can all vape more sustainably. In this guide, we’ll take a look at six ways every vaper can be more environmentally friendly, including energy-saving tips and quick switches that will lessen your environmental impact.
1. Recycle your e-cigarette batteries and use dedicated bins
One of the first things you can do to improve the eco-friendliness of your vaping is recycling your vape batteries instead of throwing them in the bin. Disposing of your batteries in general bins sends them directly to landfill. It’s important to recycle the batteries for your e-cigarette as lithium batteries, the type often used in vape devices, are environmentally damaging when sent to landfill because they can cause toxic and polluting landfill fires.
Fortunately, recycling your batteries couldn’t be easier. All you need to do is head to your local shop or supermarket and place your dead batteries in the dedicated battery recycling bin. Alternatively, you can sometimes return your batteries to the supplier for recycling.
At Oxford Vapours, we’re happy to take vape batteries and vape mods and recycle them for you. Many shops will take your used batteries for recycling because UK law requires retailers that sell more than 32kg of portable batteries per year to have on-site collection points to dispose of them.
Sometimes vapers might want to replace batteries even though they still have some charge in them – perhaps because they are the wrong size or are no longer compatible with your latest vaping device.
In this situation, they should not be recycled. We recommend donating or gifting your batteries to someone else who can use them in their vape. This will make someone smile and save a battery from landfill – why not?
Side note: this also applies to other vaping products too. Don’t like the flavour of an e-liquid you bought? Have an e-liquid with too much nicotine or too little nicotine? Got a kit you never use any more since upgrading? Consider gifting your unwanted devices and e-liquid to a friend instead of sending them straight to landfill.
2. Go for e-cigarettes with refillable tanks where possible
At Oxford Vapours, we love using refillable tanks. Not only are these a cost-effective option which offer a great vaping experience, but they can be filled with e-liquid over and over again, reducing waste.
Vapes with refillable tanks are also often made from more durable materials, meaning that they will last longer before needing to be replaced. Cheaper and more environmentally friendly than using disposables, switching to a refillable pod or tank is a no-brainer.
3. Use glass over plastic tanks
Plastic pollution is damaging to the natural world and our health. We currently produce and discard almost 360 million tonnes of plastic a year, and disposable plastic will continue to exist in landfills for hundreds of years after it is thrown away.
There’s no downside to choosing glass tanks for your kit. Glass tanks are as cheap as plastic tanks and have the added benefit of reducing the amount of plastic sent to landfill. Make the switch today!
4. Use long-life batteries and proper charging
Longer-lasting batteries are a good eco-friendly choice as they reduce the number of disposable batteries being used, which may end up in landfill. Long-life batteries also save you the inconvenience of having to switch out your batteries as often.
We recommend fully charging and discharging your kit’s batteries to extend their battery life. Even though you might be tempted to take them off charge before they’re finished so you can use your device, leaving them to finish charging will make your batteries last longer and save you money in the long run.
If you don’t enjoy waiting for your batteries to charge before using your e-cigarette, why not buy multiple batteries for your vape? This way, you can always let them charge fully while continuing to use your device with the back-up batteries.
5. Power off your e-cigarette rather than leaving it on standby
Just like your TV or computer, if you have a vape that can power off, we recommend switching it off instead of leaving it on standby. This means that it will use less energy, require less frequent charging and save electricity.
This is a simple tip but it’s an effective one. Plus, saving the vape’s energy means more vaping for you while also reducing your energy consumption and energy bill. It’s a win-win situation!
6. Recycle your e-cigarette packaging
A growing number of e-cigarette brands are now offering packaging which is suitable for recycling. Instead of using single-use plastic, 91% of which is never recycled, some brands are opting for the more eco-conscious choice of cardboard and paper.
Innokin, for example, has recently switched to entirely plastic-free packaging. Using paper and cardboard to package their vapes, coils, and other products, Innokin is leading the way in recycling friendly packaging for vapes.
Consider picking vape products by brands that offer recycling friendly packaging, and make sure that you throw it in the correct bin after opening your package.
Conclusion: can vaping be better for the environment than smoking cigarettes?
Vape waste can be damaging to the environment because it involves three types of ecologically detrimental waste: plastic waste, electronic waste (e-waste), and hazardous waste. However, vaping doesn’t have to be this environmentally unfriendly. By choosing longer-lasting and reusable vape devices and accessories, recycling effectively, and charging our batteries properly, we can become more eco-friendly vapers.
It’s important to remember that smoking traditional cigarettes is also detrimental to the environment. According to Earth Day, cigarette butts are the most commonly polluted plastic with 4.5 trillion cigarette butts polluting the planet. Because they are made of plastic, they can take a decade to degrade but the environmental impact continues as harmful chemicals are released into the land and water systems.
Together, vapers can make easy switches to vape more sustainably for the good of the planet. With these tips, we can all lessen our environmental impact as well as saving money.
Do you have more tips for how to make your vaping more environmentally friendly? Have you made a simple switch to reduce waste? Leave a comment on our YouTube channel or let us know.