The Ballad of Lost Mary: E-cigarette Sculpture in Devon

Sep.05.2024
The Ballad of Lost Mary: E-cigarette Sculpture in Devon
Plymouth volunteer team creates sculpture from 4500 disposable e-cigarettes, highlighting environmental impact of single-use products.

According to a report by the BBC on September 4th, a team of volunteer litter pickers in Plymouth, Devon, UK, created a sculpture using 4,500 disposable e-cigarettes collected last year.

The Ballad of Lost Mary: E-cigarette Sculpture in Devon


This five-foot (1.5 meters) tall sculpture, titled "The Ballad of Lost Mary," has been on display throughout the city since June, with its final exhibition location being Plymouth Train Station.


The founder of the company CIC, El Clarke, stated that the plan is to dismantle and recycle the e-cigarette used in this sculpture after it is displayed. This sculpture not only symbolizes the widespread use of e-cigarettes, but also the proliferation of disposable products in society.


We created a five-foot tall sculpture using e-cigarettes, aimed at raising awareness about the environment. In the center of the sculpture is a hand with a seahorse at the top, symbolizing marine animals struggling to survive in trash.


We used recycled polystyrene, and artists also used some other materials to complete this sculpture.


The sculpture artwork "The Ballad of Lost Mary" made from 4500 disposable e-cigarettes. Image source: CIC.


A sculpture titled "The Ballad of Lost Mary" made from 4,500 disposable e-cigarettes. Image source: CIC.


When asked about the number of disposable e-cigarettes collected last year, she stated, "The quantity is truly astonishing.


Fortunately, this year we have seen a significant decrease in the number of this type of e-cigarette, especially before the 2025 ban takes effect, which is a good thing.


We hope that by the time the ban is implemented, these disposable e-cigarettes will essentially be phased out.


We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

KT&G Launches “Miix Cigar Collection” for lil Hybrid at Convenience Stores Nationwide
KT&G Launches “Miix Cigar Collection” for lil Hybrid at Convenience Stores Nationwide
KT&G said on April 15 that it will launch “Miix Cigar Collection,” a dedicated stick for its lil Hybrid heated tobacco product, at convenience stores nationwide in South Korea. The company said the product is the first in the Miix series to apply a “Balance Filter” with internal space in the filter and contains 18% cigar leaf to deliver cigar flavor. With the new launch, the Miix lineup for lil Hybrid will expand to 16 products.
Apr.15 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Belgian Health Minister Calls Tobacco Industry “Criminal” After Court Undermines Supermarket Sales Ban
Belgian Health Minister Calls Tobacco Industry “Criminal” After Court Undermines Supermarket Sales Ban
Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke described the tobacco industry as a “criminal” sector with “no future” during an appearance on VRT’s current affairs program Ter Zake. His comments came after Belgium’s Constitutional Court ruled that a government ban on cigarette and vape sales in supermarkets was discriminatory because it allowed small shops to sell tobacco products while prohibiting larger retailers from doing so.
May.07 by 2FIRSTS.ai
RJR Vapor Loses Tax Refund Case as Texas High Court Finds VELO Pouches Taxable
RJR Vapor Loses Tax Refund Case as Texas High Court Finds VELO Pouches Taxable
The Texas Supreme Court issued a case summary on May 8, 2026, describing its decision in Hancock v. RJR Vapor Co. LLC. The dispute centered on whether RJR Vapor’s VELO oral nicotine pouches are taxable as “tobacco products” under the Texas Tax Code. Lower courts had held that the pouches were not taxable tobacco products, but the Texas Supreme Court reversed, concluding that VELO pouches are taxable because they are made of “a tobacco substitute.”
May.09 by 2FIRSTS.ai
FDA Opens Public Comment Period on Draft Guidance for Flavored E-Cigarette Applications
FDA Opens Public Comment Period on Draft Guidance for Flavored E-Cigarette Applications
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products announced an open public comment period for a draft guidance titled Flavored Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) Premarket Applications – Considerations Related to Youth Risk.
Apr.09 by 2FIRSTS.ai
French Anti-Tobacco Group Contre-Feu Calls for Plain Packaging Across All Vaping Products
French Anti-Tobacco Group Contre-Feu Calls for Plain Packaging Across All Vaping Products
French anti-tobacco group Contre-Feu said in a statement released on April 14 that e-cigarette manufacturers are encouraging nicotine dependence among young people through targeted marketing and called for concrete measures to protect minors. The group asked for plain packaging for all vaping products, strict regulation of flavor names, and a ban on online sales.
Apr.15 by 2FIRSTS.ai
More Than 500 Stores in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod Region Voluntarily Stop Selling Vapes
More Than 500 Stores in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod Region Voluntarily Stop Selling Vapes
According to the Nizhny Novgorod regional government, 550 stores in the region have voluntarily removed vapes and e-liquids from their product assortments. Regional officials said a public offer encouraging businesses to self-restrict vape sales has been in place since September 2025, and that a large retail chain with more than 40 outlets in Nizhny Novgorod joined the initiative. The regional government also said a federal ban on vape sales is expected in the near future.
Apr.15 by 2FIRSTS.ai