Alternatives to Disposable Vapes
I’m sure that many of you who rely solely on disposable vapes are wondering what alternatives will be accessible once single-use vapes are banned in the UK from June 2025. But don’t worry, there are plenty of alternatives out there, each offering a more cost-effective and sustainable way to enjoy vaping. With millions of disposable vapes being thrown away in the UK every week, this ban is aiming to counteract the amount of plastic and electronic waste they produce and, coincidentally, will allow you to broaden your vaping horizons. In this blog, I’ll cover what the ban is trying to achieve, as well as the different substitutes that are available to you.
Key Points
- The UK single-use vape ban will open the path for more environmentally friendly substitutes.
- The main choices for vapers post-ban will be pre-filled pod kits and refillable vapes.
- Knowing what substitutes are available will enable you to choose your new vape with the knowledge that it will help to create a cleaner environment.
About the Vape Ban
Vape Ban Background
The UK government has decided to tighten rules on single-use vapes for two reasons: Damage to the environment and youth vaping. The ban hopes to lower plastic and electronic waste, as well as safeguard public health, particularly in reference to young people. 7.2% of 11-17-year-olds in the UK admitted to trying a vape in 2024, raising questions regarding nicotine addiction amongst the youth. While this is down from 7.6% in 2023, it’s still a worrying figure. The government is eager to highlight more eco-friendly choices that cut waste, as in 2024, 8.2 million disposable vapes were thrown away every week - a statistic that simply boggles the mind.
The Value of Alternatives
With disposable vapes disappearing from shelves in a matter of months, it's important that you know what options are available to you. These choices allow for a more flexible vape, letting you play around with things like flavour, nicotine strength, and device settings, as well as saving you some money!
Substitutes for Single-Use Vapes
Refillable Vapes
Refillable vapes such as pod kits and sub-ohm kits are already very popular devices. They allow you to refill your pod or tank with any of the thousands of different e-liquid flavours available. Pod kits are better suited to newer vapers, especially if you’re coming off disposables since they are designed to be user-friendly, with many offering simple puff-and-go setups like their soon-to-be-banned cousins, while sub-ohm kits are better for veterans with more vaping experience. The vapes only require you to buy e-liquid and replacement coils or pods once you have the device, meaning that over time, they’ll actually save you money, even if the initial cost may be more.
Prefilled Pod Kits
Another great choice combining sustainability with ease-of-use is pre-filled pod kits. These kits are very similar to refillable pod kits, except they use pre-filled cartridges that come with the device and can be bought separately. Both beginners and expert vapers will find prefilled pod kits a fantastic choice since they are made for simplicity of use -they’re literally just plug and play! Though they still generate some waste - the pod has to be thrown away when the e-liquid has run out - prefilled pods are less harmful to the environment than disposable vapes since the device itself can be recharged and used over and over again.
Nicotine Salts
While nicotine salts aren’t a device, they’re perfect to use if you’ve decided to move onto a pod kit. The go-to choice for many vapers (me included), their composition allows for rapid nicotine absorption and a gentle throat hit at higher nicotine levels, making them ideal for getting a similar experience to disposable. All pod kits are nic salt compatible, and pretty much all prefilled pods these days use nicotine salts. You can also find them in a wide range of flavours, many of which aren’t available in disposables, as well as varying nicotine strengths, giving you more control over your vape.
Common Questions
Will I have to totally switch from vaping?
You might be worried that the ban will force you to drastically alter how you consume nicotine. The fact of the matter is that alternatives like pod kits allow for a seamless transition between the two, thanks to their user-friendly nature. Ecigone has some great guides to help make the switch even easier for you.
Are substitutes harder to use?
While refillable devices may seem complex to you, I can assure you they’re not. They’re built with new users in mind, with many featuring preset modes for easy vaping, as well as adjustable power options once you get more comfortable with using them.
Will Alternatives Still Provide Me with the Same Level of Satisfaction?
One widespread belief is that substitutes won't satisfy you like disposable vapes do. While it’s true that disposable vapes have very intense flavours, the additional flexibility of settings, flavours, and nicotine strengths found in many alternatives allows you to tailor your vape in whatever way you see fit.
Are Refillable Vapes More costly?
In the short term, yes, they are. But after you’ve paid the upfront cost of the device, the long-term savings are undeniable. Just one bottle of 10ml nic salts is the equivalent of five disposable vapes, and it's far cheaper. Pods and coils only need to be changed every week or two (on average), and most pod kits come with a spare pod, further increasing their cost-effectiveness.
To Sum Up
Alternatives to disposable vapes are going to become your new best friend once the ban takes effect. Knowing what your choices are ahead of time will make the transition much smoother for you, and as you’ve seen, the benefits far outweigh those of single-use vapes. You may find that your vaping experience as a whole is elevated when switching to one of these more sustainable options - not only will you save money, but you’ll also have more control and variety around how you enjoy your sessions. What alternatives to disposable vapes caught your interest the most? Would you choose a refillable pod kit or a prefilled pod vape? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
