UKVIA foregrounds environmental compliance with return of Sustainable Vaping Week

The UK Vaping Industry Association’s annual Sustainable Vaping Week campaign is returning for its second year.

Launching today, in line with International E-Waste Day, the week-long initiative was originally created to help reduce the impact of vaping on the environment by educating businesses on their WEEE responsibilities and providing consumers with information on the dos’ and don’ts of recycling their vapes.

As part of the campaign, the UKVIA has organised a webinar entitled ‘Responding to the Changing Vape Waste Landscape’, which will feature a panel of expert speakers from the waste management sector and vape supply chain.

This session – taking place on Thursday, October 17 - will cover topics such as the waste management implications of a ban on disposable vapes, sustainability best practice and new and evolving vape recycling processes and product solutions.

The webinar, which will be chaired by UKVIA Director General John Dunne, will also include a presentation from representatives of the Environment Agency (EA) on the WEEE responsibilities of businesses operating in the vape sector.

John Dunne

Said John Dunne: “It is paramount that businesses in the vape supply chain stick to the letter of the law in all areas, be that youth access prevention, product standards, marketing regulations and – as is the focus of Sustainable Vaping Week – environmental obligations.

“Equally, the industry and regulators must ensure consumers have easy access to the correct waste channels and are armed with the knowledge to use them.

“Earlier this year, vape manufacturers and retailers were told to mark their calendars for April 2025 - the date disposable vapes would disappear from shelves. As the centrepiece of this year’s Sustainable Vaping Week campaign, our upcoming webinar will create a platform for critical discussion between representatives of the vape and waste management sectors on a number of key topics, including the potential impact of such policy.”

He added: “We are also delighted the Environment Agency will be using this session to reiterate key guidance for businesses.”

As part of the campaign, the UKVIA will be providing a range of content for all of its members and the wider industry to promote and share via their offline and online retail stores, as well as through their communications channels, to educate vapers about the importance of disposing of their used products through the correct waste streams.