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RELX’s pod recycling program, will turn pods into cement.
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Vapers using different brands can still participate in RELX’s pod recycling program.
E-cigarettes grew increasingly popular in recent years. In terms of public health, they have not only reduced the health risks caused by conventional tobacco products, but also solved the ocean pollution problem caused by cigarette butts. However, e-cigarettes also have problems. As pods are consumables, the used pods have not been well recycled by the industry. According to VapingPost, researchers estimate that 55 million adults will vape by 2021. If not handled properly, this may cause a huge recycling problem which is an important issue the industry cannot ignore.
As green development is vigorously advocated, recycling of e-cigarettes is a major focus. Pods, composed of metal, plastic, and glass components also face a disassembly problem during recycling. Most components are recyclable waste, but batteries should be classified as hazardous waste. When hazardous waste flows into the environment, the harm cannot be underestimated, and so it is urgent to take action.
Irregular trade-in activities
Fortunately, at least some e-cigarette brands in China are considering how to recycle e-cigarette waste and try to cultivate consumers’ awareness of environmental protection.
In 2018, Laan, then the leading brand of China’s e-cigarettes, launched its pod recycling program for the first time, working with vapers to protect the environment and better establish green environmental awareness. Eight used pods could be exchanged for a new box of pods, which encouraged everyone to take practical actions to reduce the possible impact of pods on the surrounding environment. The week-long recycling activity received nearly 500 pods and delivered more than 50 boxes of new ones.
Subsequently, ZQ, VINN, and YingZhuo also launched their own pod recycling activities to help protect the environment. For example, each used VINN e-cigarette can be exchanged, either through mail or in-store exchange, for RMB1.50, or five pods can be exchanged for one pod of a certain flavor to recycle the products. FLOW also called on everyone to store their discarded disposable e-cigarettes. Although they have not developed a perfect recycling strategy for the time being, their attitude shows that sooner or later recycling will be included in the next development plan.
Obviously, the industry has realized the recycling problem, but judging from the current scattered activities, most enterprises only achieve temporary results and do not have a long-term and feasible recycling strategy. In the long run, helping people develop the habit of recycling is the key.
First whole link recovery solution to pods
This September, RELX launched its own pod recycling program with China Siyuan Foundation for Poverty Alleviation. It is reported that this is the first whole link pods recovery solution. Implementation of the program started in Beijing and is expected to cover 10 cities by February 2022, and will be promoted across the nation by the end of 2022.
RELX will invest RMB20 million in phase I, of which RMB10 million will be used for rural revitalization. “Turning waste into treasure and realizing recycling – we hope to make pods ad-here to social values and contribute to sustainable development and common prosperity,” said Kate Wang, founder and c.e.o. of Relx.
RELX’ program will turn pods into cement. Even though the main raw materials of cement are limestone and clay, cement clinker made of metal and other solid wastes is also essential. The iron metal from the pods form cement clinker through the use of collaborative disposal technology in the cement kiln, which greatly reduces the amount of fly ash and slag generated during the process. The clinker optimizes the cement’s performance and functionality for various applications. By recycling the waste pods into cement clinker and putting them into rural infrastructure construction, pods can help rural revitalization.
RELX stressed that the pods re-cycling program would be oriented to the whole industry and all brands. Vapers can get recycling bags from RELX flagship stores, collect the used pods, and drop them into recycling boxes in RELX stores for further processing by the company.
Smart vending machines
What would make vapers voluntarily put pods into recycling receptacles? People didn’t develop the habit of throwing garbage into a fixed container until there were enough garbage cans. Using the same concept, smart vending machines can be used to encourage people to recycle pods.
If each smart vending machine selling e-cigarettes is equipped with a recycling port, vapers can be rewarded points for each pod they recycle. When the points reach a certain level, the vaper can exchange them for new e-cigarettes or pods in the vending machine. Such a cycle is very promising to achieve good results. Smart vending machines, which are less expensive, can be installed in many places. Through wide distribution of machines and the use of powerful information networking technology, even two different vending machines in two cities thousands of miles apart can quickly identify vapers’ points, al-lowing them to use their points to exchange for new e-cigarettes or pods anytime, anywhere.
A long way to go
At present, environmental protection actions involving e-cigarettes still remain ideological and the costs need to be considered in practical application. However, we believe that as long as brands are willing to consider how to handle the waste problem, there will be recycling solutions for pods and batteries. After all, environmental protection is not a battle for one person, but the whole e-cigarette industry should develop a consensus on environmental problems and be willing to jointly undertake and solve environmental problems. To achieve green and sustain-able development, the industry still has a long way to go.