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Highlights:
- UK to ban the sale of single-use vapes by July 2025 due to environmental concerns.
- The move aims to curb the appeal of vaping among young people.
- Supreme plc, a major distributor, is aligning products to comply with the upcoming ban.
The UK government has confirmed that the sale of single-use vapes will be banned from July 2025, following a growing chorus of concerns over their environmental impact and popularity among underage users. The announcement was made by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) as it sticks to a plan first initiated by the former Tory administration.
The decision comes in response to mounting pressure from policymakers who have voiced concerns about the waste generated by these disposable products and their increasing use by minors. Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had committed to a crackdown on these low-cost cigarette alternatives, and this latest move from Defra reinforces that pledge.
"Single-use vapes are extremely wasteful and blight our towns and cities,” said Mary Creagh, the UK’s ‘circular economy’ minister. She emphasized that banning single-use vapes marks the beginning of the country’s shift towards a more sustainable approach to resources. "This is the first step on the road to a circular economy, where we use resources for longer, reduce waste, accelerate the path to net zero, and create thousands of jobs across the country."
Health experts have also raised alarms about the rising popularity of disposable vapes among young people. Andrew Gwynne, the Minister for Health and Prevention, pointed out the worrying statistics showing that a quarter of 11 to 15-year-olds used vapes in the past year. “Banning disposable vapes will not only protect the environment but importantly reduce the appeal of vapes to children and keep them out of the hands of vulnerable young people,” Gwynne added.
This move to ban disposable vapes is expected to have significant implications for the vaping industry, with many companies needing to pivot their product lines to remain compliant. Supreme plc, a London-listed distributor of vaping products, including single-use vapes, saw its shares dip by 2.3% following the government’s announcement.
In a statement, Supreme plc welcomed the ban, noting that it had been preparing for this eventuality since January 2024. “We have been realigning our core vaping products to ensure we are fully compliant well in advance of the ban coming into effect," the company said. Supreme also reaffirmed its commitment to combating underage vaping, adding that the industry’s primary goal should remain helping adult smokers find safer alternatives to smoking.
This latest decision forms part of the government’s broader strategy to address waste and promote sustainability while protecting public health, particularly the well-being of younger individuals. The ban is expected to influence similar moves in other countries, as global attention grows on the environmental and societal impacts of disposable vapes.
