Big puff vapes are surging in popularity, while contributing to an “environmental nightmare,” according to Material Focus (MF), which has revealed that three million are purchased a week, versus 5.3 million single-use vapes.
The new sub-segment now accounts for 23% of monthly vape purchases, versus 39% for single use vapes, revealed new research from MF, which heads up the Recycle your Your Electricals campaign. The group calculated that 63% of puffs taken on vapes use big puff style devices.
With a big puff vape providing around 6,000 puffs at an economical 19p per puff, compared with an average 600 puffs for a single use vape, costing 83p per puff, it’s easy to see why big puffs are popular, stated MF. The group found that big puff vapes are particularly in favour among young people, with 48% of 16 to 34-year-olds more likely to buy these new style vapes compared to 36% of 35 to 55-year-olds.
While big puffs last longer than single use vapes, many still have limited lifespan and MF claimed that they make a large contribution to the “environmental nightmare” of 8.2 million vapes which are currently thrown away or recycled incorrectly every week.
The group accused manufacturers of developing big puff lines to circumvent the upcoming ban on single use vapes. “With a ban due in just six months (June 2025), the production of vapes is continuing to morph with more new products entering the market such as ‘big puff’, which have been designed by the producers to avoid the new regulations,” said the campaign group. “Material Focus forecast that these big puff vapes and other new vapes are set to cause significant environmental challenges post the disposable ban next year.”
MF’s research found that overall vape purchases had increased 37% to 13.5 million units a week – compared to 9.9 million last year.
One in five (20%) vape users are recycling their single use vapes in store, up from 8% last year, the research revealed. However, there is more work to be done, with 77% of UK vapers feeling there is not enough information on how to recycle vapes. The group added that many retailers did not comply with environmental regulations and hadn’t put recycling drop-off points and systems in place.
Scott Butler, Executive Director, Material Focus said: “It’s good to see that more vape retailers are beginning to provide recycling facilities, and more people are recycling them.
“However this isn’t anywhere near enough to turn the tide. The majority of vapers are either unaware of where to recycle their vapes or don’t have a good experience of recycling them. It should be as easy to recycle a vape as it is to buy one.”
