Peach, lychee, chocolate-hazelnuts…
With the puffs (pronounced “peuf”, “puff” in English), all tastes are allowed. These disposable electronic cigarettes were born in China, before being marketed by Californian companies from 2019. The market exploded in 2020, when the powerful American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned flavorings in e-cigarettes’ vaping liquids. -reusable cigarettes but not disposable ones, which leads to a transfer of consumption and huge gains: last year, the American market for disposable electronic cigarettes was worth 6.8 billion dollars. The puff is also a hit in Europe thanks to its price (less than 10 euros, compared to 20 euros on average for a reusable e-cigarette and vaping liquid), as well as the low technicality of the product, which allows it to be distributed to tobacconists and supermarkets.
An ecological calamity
Puff lifespan: between six hundred and seven hundred puffs, according to the National Committee Against Smoking. And once thrown away? An eternity. Made of plastic, a non-removable battery containing 0.15 grams of lithium, but also traces of heavy metals, the puffs are very difficult to recycle, especially since the packaging does not indicate that they must be thrown away in points dedicated to electrical appliances less than 25 cm or in recycling centers. In April, around twenty personalities from the world of health and ecology signed in The world a call to ban this “environmental and health scourge”. Next to it, the traditional butt which degrades in two years seems almost pleasant.
Teenagers at the heart of the target
Neon packaging, perfume “unicorn” (a sweet blend of strawberries and dragon fruit), ideal format to be stashed in a pencil case among the 4-color pens… The puff targets the young audience, who see the promotions on Instagram and TikTok and who know nothing about substances irritants it contains. With or without nicotine, disposable or not, all e-cigarettes are prohibited from sale to minors by the public health code. But, in fact, “13% of puff consumers are between 13 and 16 years old”, indicates Martin Drago, advocacy manager of the Alliance Against Tobacco (ACT), which published the first European study on the subject at the end of 2022, and who deplores that sellers, attracted by this juicy business, do not sufficiently control the age of their customers. Result: in 2023, 47% of adolescents “began their introduction to nicotine through this device” according to the ACT, compared to 28% last year. To put an end to the phenomenon, associations are calling for a ban.
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