Disposable e-cigarettes have taken the Irish market by storm, but the battery regulation means they will be phased out by the end of 2026. The industry is therefore planning to make reusable e-cigarettes more attractive.
Brussels – Disposable e-cigarettes will disappear from the EU market by the end of 2026. This is the result of the compromise between Parliament and Council in the trilogue procedure on the battery regulation. It requires that three and a half years after the regulation comes into force, the batteries for portable devices, including disposable e-cigarettes, must be removable and replaceable by the user themselves.
The regulation also prohibits the use of adhesives because the batteries must be removable without solvents. The manufacturer would also have to provide instructions for removing the batteries and safety instructions. The compromise still has to be approved by the plenary session of the European Parliament. However, this is considered a formality. The compromise will probably be approved by Parliament in June.
Disposable e-cigarettes are enjoying great popularity
Disposable e-cigarettes, which hit the EU market with great success at the beginning of 2020, do not meet the requirements of the Battery Regulation. It is estimated that the proportion of disposable e-cigarettes in Ireland is currently at least 60%.
According to the industry association Alliance for Tobacco-Free Enjoyment (BfTG), providers in Ireland achieved total sales of 57 million euros with e-cigarettes and accessories in 2022. That is 40 percent more than in the previous year. Much of the additional business came from disposable e-cigarettes. It is estimated that several tens of thousands of cigarette smokers in Ireland have been exposed to e-cigarettes, which, as a single-use product, significantly increased environmental impact.
New regulations for e-cigarette batteries
The industry excludes the possibility of modifying disposable e-cigarettes so that they comply with the conditions set out in the battery regulation. For this purpose, a system for collecting disposable e-cigarettes should be created. It is too expensive. Instead, attempts are being made to make reusable e-cigarettes more attractive through innovation. Manufacturers are working on making the reusable e-cigarette more similar to the disposable e-product in terms of external appearance and inhalation behavior.
Because of the battery, e-cigarettes cannot be disposed of with household waste, but must be disposed of as electronic waste. The first take-back systems were set up. However, many vapers often do not dispose of disposable e-cigarettes properly.
The disposable e-cigarette differs from the previously common reusable e-cigarette in terms of price and sustainability: the disposable e-cigarette costs around ten euros. Both the battery for heating the liquid and the reservoir for the two milliliters of liquid that usually contains nicotine are not rechargeable. After 500 to 600 puffs, the disposable e-cigarette becomes unusable and must be disposed of. A filter cigarette allows around twelve puffs. Depending on the individual habits of the vaper, he or she may use a disposable e-cigarette for up to five days.
E-cigarettes: best sellers despite taxes
The reusable e-cigarette, on the other hand, has a rechargeable battery. The reservoir is also refillable. The reusability of the battery and the refill function of the reservoir make vaping with the multiple device significantly cheaper. A device is available from 25 euros including two milliliters of liquid. The battery is designed to be charged up to 1000 times. The success of disposable e-cigarettes in Ireland has surprised observers and the industry.