European Disposable E-cigarettes Have Sparked Controversy, And The Replacement Version May Usher in Market Opportunities

According to foreign media reports, some countries and regions in Europe are discussing the ban on disposable e-cigarettes, as it is difficult to recycle discarded disposable e-cigarettes and has a negative impact on the environment. At the same time, the brightly colored appearance will attract teenagers.
According to Circularonline, the UK's resource recycling website, on September 4th, Clyde Loukes, the chairman of the North London Waste Authority (NLWA), has written to the Minister of Environment and the Minister of Environment, stating that disposable e-cigarettes face "logistics difficulties, labor intensity, and high cost" in recycling due to their "complex material composition", and has urged the government to ban them.
French Prime Minister Elizabeth Bourne stated in an interview with RTL radio on September 3rd that the French government is planning to announce new plans to address the smoking problem, including a ban on the use of disposable e-cigarettes.
The European Union has proposed a plan to ban disposable e-cigarettes by the end of 2026.
New Zealand has also implemented restrictive measures to prohibit e-cigarette stores from being located within 300 meters of schools, and to ensure that all e-cigarettes must be equipped with detachable batteries.
There are two points worth noting here. Firstly, the complex material composition of disposable e-cigarettes makes recycling difficult, and secondly, e-cigarettes are equipped with detachable batteries. In this context, the replacement electronic cigarette with separate cartridges and battery poles may face market opportunities.
The complex material composition of disposable electronic cigarettes
There is no unified industry standard for disposable e-cigarettes, and if there is, the cost should be as low as possible. So, there are some differences in the materials used in each company's products.
For example, materials such as ABS, PP, PC/ABS alloy, PC, aluminum alloy, etc. have been applied to the shell and cigarette holder. However, most oil storage tanks still use PCTG based on the chemical resistance requirements of tobacco oil. Then the oil storage cotton part, mostly made of PP and PET fibers.
In addition, batteries, cigarette oil, circuit boards, and disposable electronic cigarettes do have a very complex material composition.
Detachable battery
The batteries of disposable e-cigarettes are welded together with the solution board, which also increases the difficulty of recycling discarded disposable e-cigarettes. Some manufacturers have also launched modular disposable e-cigarettes, while industry insiders are also looking for products with detachable batteries.
Market Opportunities for Replacement Electronic Cigarettes
Previously, some industry insiders stated that although disposable e-cigarettes may become popular in the European market in the short term, in the long run, there is hope that the replacement type will re-enter the track. There are two reasons, one is regulation, and the other is environmental impact promotion.
The regulation is related to the TPD2ml oil volume in Europe. In terms of environmental protection, just as disposable e-cigarettes are criticized for their "complex material composition", the cartridge of the replacement e-cigarette mainly consists of PCTG oil storage tank/base, silicone, and atomization core, with relatively simple materials. From a certain perspective, the replacement cigarette holder is a detachable battery. So, from these perspectives, there may be an opportunity for cartridge swappable e-cigarettes to open up a new track in Europe.