From June 21 to 23, vape retailers, distributors and wholesalers from more than 88 countries participated the World Vape Show in Dubai World Trade Center.
Sustainability was a hot topic at the conference discussion "Vaping landscape and emerging challenges: sustainability focus”, with inputs by Joe Dunne, director of Hale Vaping Ireland, Jamal Bashir, chairman of ANDS Group, Fred Roeder, managing director of the Consumer Choice Center, and representatives from ELFBAR.
As a pioneer and innovator of vaping technologies, ELFBAR representatives reiterated its sustainable practices and industry compliance through its comprehensive recycling efforts in reducing e-waste generation during the conference discussion.
The representative said that ELFBAR has taken the initiative to act and plan for compliance in the global changing regulatory environment with increasing stringentrequirements for environmental protection and sustainable development. Since 2022, ELFBAR has been working closely with the European Recycling Platform (ERP), which helps ELFBAR successful register under the Waste Electronic Cigarettes and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulatory guidelines in the UK.
To further its commitment to protecting the environment, ELFBAR partnered with Recover, one of the UK's most established lithium recycling companies, earlier this year to launch a disposable e-cigarette recycling program by collaborating with retailers to set up dedicated recycling bins to collect used ELFBAR products.
Recover collects and transports discarded devices from retailers using low-carbon vehicles that meet European Stage 6 emission standards. Collected devices are transported to an Approved Authorized Treatment Facility (AATF) certified organization, where they are completely disassembled and recycled.
This recycling program ensures that all components within the e-cigarette, including plastic and metal, are properly processed after a rigorous disassembly and recycling.
The representative quoted Recover CEO, John Dorman, that through a comprehensive recycling process, all components, including plastics and metals, can be safely converted into reusable secondary raw materials.
ELFBAR has also partnered with a number of UK e-cigarette retailers such as MyCigara, Evapo and Tidal Vape, which have all joined the recycling program with dedicated collection bins in their UK-based stores for used ELFBAR products. The program will soon be extended to more retail chains. This recycling initiative provides consumers with a convenient way to dispose of used products.
The representative also mentioned that ELFBAR is not only active in environmental recycling initiatives in the UK, but is also implementing environmental programs and recycling initiatives in a number of countries starting in 2022, including Ireland, Romania and Cyprus. ELFBAR has offered recycling services in over 3,000 stores.
She concluded that ELFBAR's recycling program represents a tangible step towards environmental responsibility and she used the Dubai World E-Cigarette Show to demonstrate its vision and commitment to sustainability. By 2025, ELFBAR aims to achieve closed-loop sustainable development by establishing a full-cycle recycling system that is mature, dismantlable, and reusable.
After the presentation, 2FIRSTS got to see the ELFBAR's collection bins mentioned in the recycling program on the show floor, where staff explained its recycling process and cutting-edge technologies, attracting the attention of visitors and industry experts from around the world.
Interviewed visitors to the show gave positive feedback on ELFBAR's environmental initiatives, expressing support and appreciation for ELFBAR's efforts in sustainability.
One exhibitor said, "ELFBAR's recycling program is a positive demonstration that sets an example to the entire industry. ELFBAR hopes that more e-cigarette manufacturers will pay attention to environmental issues to take measures together to create a harmonious and compliant industry future."
