There has been a revolution in the vaping industry recently with the advent of pod systems: a type of refillable device with a minimal interface (if any) and beginner-friendly features. Pod kits make vaping more accessible to those who want to quit smoking because they’re much less intimidating than the older, more complex vape kit models.

Pod kits aren’t the problem: it’s their plastic pods—many of which are designed with built-in coils, meaning that the entire pod has to be discarded within a few days to a week of use. These pods are hard to dispose of, given their built-in metal components, attached magnets, rubber stoppers, and plastic outer shell. These are another major culprit when it comes to the vape waste problem.

Furthermore, pre-filled pod kits, like the Juul and the various pre-filled Elf Bar devices available here in the UK, utilise pre-filled vape pods. These pods are designed to be vaped until they’re empty, then discarded. For some vapers, this means disposing of a pod or two per day—and the plastic vape waste from these pods really adds up over time.

Not all pod kits are the issue, and they exist for a reason: to help smokers quit. If you’re a pod kit user, perhaps you might consider whether you still need a pod kit specifically. Upgrading to a kit with a glass tank and external batteries would be better for the environment, and you may find that you actually enjoy the feel and taste more than you did with your pod kit anyway.

Or, you could opt instead for a pod device which takes changeable coils, like the Uwell Caliburn G2 Pod Kit—or any of the pod vapes in Aspire’s Flexus range, for that matter. The coils in these devices will last you up to 2 weeks with proper care, and they taste incredible to boot. Changing a coil once every two weeks takes even less effort than chucking pods with integrated coils every few days, and you’ll save money in the process. Plus, think of all the plastic you’ll save from ending up in a landfill!

Vapers looking to improve their carbon footprint would also be saving money by switching to a kit with removable components, as kits with internal or integrated batteries generally only last as long as the battery’s life cycle—which can be anywhere from six months to about a year before you’re looking for a new device. On the flipside, a device which utilises external batteries will last many years, so long as you change the batteries every six months or so. This way, you’ll be cutting down both on vape waste and on costs in the long run. 

A kit with removable components may cost you more up front, but you’ll be able to use it for many years to come (so long as you replace the batteries roughly once or twice a year).