Decline of Disposables: A Sustainable Alternative

According to a report from the German news agency on September 14th, the Tobacco Freedom Alliance (BfTG) in Dortmund recently released industry estimates showing that despite being the mainstream in the mass market, the popularity of disposable e-cigarettes has weakened. Currently, disposable e-cigarettes account for 30% of the e-cigarette market, which is a decrease of 10 percentage points compared to 2022.

Shift in E-cigarette Consumption Patterns

Despite developing in the mainstream market, the popularity of disposable e-cigarettes is declining among consumers.

According to the BfTG, the main reason for the decrease in market share is the introduction of new, more sustainable e-cigarette products. These products only require the replacement of pods, while the e-cigarette devices can be reused multiple times. Dustin Dahlmann, the head of the alliance, stated that this year's trend is moving towards "sustainable development".

Environmentalists Criticized Disposable

In addition, many environmental activists have criticized disposable e-cigarette products, pointing out that they must be completely disposed of once the e-liquid is consumed, including the non-recyclable built-in batteries. This practice puts immense pressure on the environment. If these disposable products are mistakenly thrown into regular trash bins, it may even lead to fires. Environmentalists also criticize the significant waste of resources associated with the use of these disposable electronic products.

Nowadays, many e-cigarette suppliers have already started to adjust their product lines. Some companies have launched reusable e-cigarette devices that only require replacing the pod to fill it with new e-liquid. Derman stated that the market share of such reusable products has reached 15% and is showing an upward trend.

The sales of e-cigarettes increased by 40% to reach 810 million euros in 2023.

In addition to these two types of e-cigarette products, there is also a traditional e-cigarette on the market that can be refilled with e-liquid. This type of e-cigarette is fully reusable and only requires the addition of e-liquid to the device, eliminating any waste.

The growth rate of this emerging industry is still astonishing when considering all e-cigarettes. Based on a survey of the members of the alliance (namely, German distributors and manufacturers), BfTG predicts that e-cigarette sales in Germany will reach €810 million by 2023, a 40% increase from the data of 2022.

Today, the Dortmund International Tobacco Exhibition kicked off, featuring not only tobacco companies but also a wide range of e-cigarette suppliers showcasing their products.

However, scientists also warn against e-cigarettes, particularly those that contain added flavors and often include nicotine in the e-liquid, as they can potentially pose health risks to consumers.