Climate Column: Ditch the Single-Use!

Climate Column: Ditch the Single-Use!

There has been a rapid rise in disposable (single-use) e-cigarettes in the last decade.

Did you also know that single-use vapes are doing real harm to our planet?

These single-use devices are typically made of a combination of plastic, metal, and lithium-ion batteries, and they are difficult to recycle well.

This means millions of disposable vapes end up in landfills every year, polluting our planet and using up valuable resources.

If vapes aren’t thrown away properly, the batteries in them can be a real danger. They can leak toxic substances into the soil and water or even cause fires in waste processing facilities.

If you smoke, vaping is much safer. Quitting smoking is one of the best things we can do for our health. Using vapes (e-cigarettes) as a quitting tool is effective, and given the multiple and immense health risks of smoking it is much safer to vape than to smoke.

From 1 June, it will be illegal for shops to sell single-use or ‘disposable’ vapes.

Lots of e-cigarette companies are making the jump to reusable vapes, which can be recharged and refilled.

These are designed to last for months or even years, reducing the amount of waste generated.

Single use vapes are just one example. From plastic cutlery and coffee cups to packaging and even fast fashion, disposable products have become an integral part of modern convenience culture.

However, the environmental consequences are dire. Single-use plastics, for example, are a major contributor to ocean pollution and take hundreds of years to degrade. The rise of cheap ultra-fast fashion means more and more people are wearing an outfit once and then binning it, which has a significant environmental toll.

So what changes can you make to ditch the single-use, and go reusable? Here’s some easy swaps!

• Buy loose fruit and veg and leave the plastic wrapped stuff in the shops. This also means you can just buy what you need, save money and waste less food
• Carry a reusable water bottle and refill it for free, and a reusable coffee cup- lots of places will give you a discount on your coffee too!
• Say no to disposable plastic cutlery, and make sure you remember you bag when you’re shopping and you won’t get caught out with the bag charge
• Buy second-hand from vintage and charity or online on websites like Vinted. Say no to fast-fashion and save yourself some money!

Finally, it is really important to say that while there has been a real increase in the number of young people vaping- it is illegal for vapes to be sold to under 18s.

NHS advice is very clear; vaping is not for children and young people. With their lungs and brains still developing, they are more sensitive to the effects it can have. There have even been cases of teenagers with a collapsed lung and coughing up blood due to vaping.

If you know of a shop selling vapes underage, or that continues to sell disposable vapes after 1 June, report it to us in confidence at [email protected] or 0808 223 1133.