Disposable e-cigarettes have conquered the German market in 2022.
But the battery regulation means it will be over by the end of 2026. The industry is therefore planning to make reusable e-cigarettes more attractive.
This analysis is available
to IPPEN.MEDIA
as part of a cooperation with the
Europe.Table Professional Briefing -
Europe.Table
first published it
on April 14, 2023.
Brussels – Single-use 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.
He demands that three and a half years after the regulation comes into force for portable devices, i.e. also for disposable e-cigarettes, the batteries must be removable and replaceable by the user himself.
The regulation also prohibits the use of adhesives, since the batteries must be able to be dismantled without solvents.
In addition, the manufacturer would have to provide instructions for removing the batteries and safety information.
The compromise still has to be approved by the plenary session of the European Parliament.
But this is considered a formality.
The compromise will probably be passed by Parliament in June.
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Disposable e-cigarettes are a huge success
Single-use e-cigarettes, which have been launched with overwhelming success in the EU in early 2022, do not meet the requirements set by the battery regulation.
According to estimates, disposable e-cigarettes now have a market share of at least 60 percent in Germany.
According to the industry association “Alliance for Tobacco-Free Enjoyment” (BfTG), in 2022 the providers in Germany generated a total turnover of 575 million euros with e-cigarettes and accessories.
That was 40 percent more than in the previous year.
Much of the additional business was done with disposable e-cigarettes.
Dustin Dahlmann from the BfTG assumes that "several hundred thousand cigarette smokers in Germany alone have come into contact with e-cigarettes, which have significantly fewer harmful substances, via the disposable product."
Battery regulation: Manufacturers want to keep new vapers
The industry rules out single-use e-cigarettes being modified to meet battery regulation requirements.
A return system for disposable e-cigarettes would have to be set up for this.
This is too costly.
Instead, attempts will be made to make reusable e-cigarettes more attractive through innovations.
"Manufacturers are working on bringing the reusable e-cigarette closer to the disposable e-product in terms of external appearance and puffing behavior," says Dahlmann.
Because of the battery, e-cigarettes must not be disposed of with household waste, but must be disposed of as electronic waste.
The first take-back systems have been set up.
Nevertheless, many vapers do not dispose of disposable e-cigarettes properly.
The disposable e-cigarette differs from the previously common reusable e-cigarette in price and sustainability: the disposable e-cigarette costs around ten euros.
Both the battery for heating the liquid and the reservoir for the two milliliter liquid, which usually contains nicotine, are non-rechargeable.
After 500 to 600 puffs, the disposable e-cigarette becomes unusable and must be disposed of.
A filter cigarette allows about twelve puffs.
Depending on the individual habits of the vaper, he uses 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 Germany surprised observers and the industry.
A vape tax of 16 cents per milliliter of liquid was introduced in Germany for the first time in July.
The tax applies to liquids that are vaped in both disposable e-cigarettes and reusable e-cigarettes.
Both nicotine and non-nicotine liquids are taxed.
It is planned to increase the tax to 32 cents in several steps by 2026.
