VAPING AND THE CLIMATE:
A Breathtaking Relationship
Aug 25, 2025
Despite being trumpeted as the healthier alternative to cigarettes, vapes (also known as e‑cigarettes) are
far from healthy—neither for the human body, nor for the environment and the overall climate.
There is a difference between something being ‘healthier’ or ‘somewhat less harmful’
. While cigarettes harm the human body through their nicotine and other toxic content, and pollute the air with that content being exhaled, and had been the most abundant form of plastic pollution for decades, vaping has introduced additional forms of waste that harms the environment, and ultimately all humans. These additional forms of waste are the:
  1. casing (thrown away after the vape runs out of the liquid it contains)
  2. the manufacturing process of the casing (which requires massive amount of energy, water, and other materials)
  3. battery (inside the casing of the vape, which powers the heating component to turn the liquid into aerosol)
  4. the aerosol itself that the vape generates
  5. the type(s) of aerosol it generates
Although using vapes have an immediate effect on the users themselves, we now focus on the environmental impact of vaping … which, in turn, impacts ALL humans
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THE ESSENCE
THE DETAILS
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HOW VAPING WORKS:
Vape juice is contained in the tank of a vape ⟶ The user activates the device (usually by pressing a button) ⟶ The battery powers the heating element ⟶ The liquid vape juice turns into the form of aerosol ⟶ The user inhales the vape aerosol through the mouthpiece ⟶ Some of the aerosol is then exhaled by the user into the air ⟶ This aerosol becomes part of the atmospheric air, and can also be inhaled by bystanders involuntarily or unwittingly
THE MAIN COMPONENTS OF A VAPE:
  1. Outer case
  2. Battery
  3. USB outlet (for recharging the battery)
  4. Tank to hold the liquid vape (‘vape juice’)
  5. Heating element or coil (‘atomizer’): Atomizes the liquid vape into aerosol
  6. Mouthpiece (used for inhaling)
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the nitty‑gritty
There are disposable, refillable, and pre‑filled rechargeable vapes. As a matter of course, disposable vapes have an even larger environmental footprint; yet, even the refillable types leave enormous amount of damage.
Vapes (just like any other electrical or battery‑powered devices) should always be recycled, never thrown into the trash
.
The types of environmental damage caused by vapes are manifold: from the strain on water and other resources that are used for the production of vapes, to the harmful chemicals (nicotine and other carcinogens) exhaled into the air, to the impact by the plastic casings of the disposed vapes (because plastic stays in the environment for 20‑600 years), and to the batteries causing fires or leaking toxic chemicals into landfills and the air.
EXPAND ALL COLLAPSE ALL
WHICH SEGMENTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT ARE AFFECTED BY VAPING, AND HOW
  • THE SEAS
    (The casing of the vape is oftentimes made of plastic)
    • Vapes are thrown away ⟹ The plastic casing often ends up in the seas and the ocean (along with most other plastic items) ⟹ Plastic breaks up into smaller pieces, and remains for tens‑ or hundreds of years ⟹ Plastic continues to accumulate in the ocean ⟹ The ocean water becomes warmer and more acidic
      • The ocean is less able to play its role in regulating the atmospheric climate
      • The ocean marine life is affected
      • The food supply chain for humans is negatively affected
      • Floods happen more often and more drastically ⟹ Affects the homes and everyday lives of people
    • Massive amounts of water resources are used during the manufacturing of the vape components, taking away water resources from otherwise necessary life functions
  • THE AIR
    • Nicotine, VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), other toxic chemicals, and heavy metals are present in the vape aerosol ⟶ Once the user exhales, the aerosol with the toxic chemicals enters the air and the atmosphere, warming the planet even more, and contributing to climate change
    • Greenhouse Gases (GHG) are generated during the mining of the materials necessary for manufacturing of the casing, the batteries, the metal heating coil ⟶ GHG enters the atmosphere
    • Greenhouse Gases are also generated during the manufacturing process of the vape components
  • THE LAND
    • Mining of the materials necessary for the casing, the batteries, and the metal heating coil continues to exploit the land of the Earth (land resources are NOT infinite)
    • Most vapes are disposed improperly ⟶ They end up on the street, in trash bins, in landfills
      • The battery inside the vapes present a fire hazard ⟹ Leads to air pollution, damage to wildlife habitats and human life
      • The lithium‑ion batteries leach toxic chemicals into the soil ⟹ Affects soil health ⟹ Negatively affects agriculture ⟹ Negatively affects the human food supply
    • The unused liquid vape (‘vape juice’) in thrown‑away vapes is hazardous chemical waste ⟹ Presents various hazards: fire hazard, leaching into the soil or the water ecosystems of the Earth ⟹ Affects the overall environment ⟹ Negatively affects agriculture, and therefore the food supply chain for humans
      • ⟶ next
      • ⟵ back
      • ⟹ consequently
      • ⟸ as said before
    EXPAND ALL COLLAPSE ALL
WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT?
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IF YOU FEEL YOU MUST … THEN USE REFILLABLE VAPES
Quitting smoking is not easy for someone who has been doing it for so long. And, vapes have been trumpeted as a better alternative … yet, they are not.

But, if you feel you must vape, at least prevent a larger environmental impact … so, choose refillable ones.
Recycling vapes is crucial—just like recycling any other electronics or battery‑powered devices. Otherwise, the batteries in the vapes can cause fires in the trash bins, leak harmful chemicals, and contaminate the air and the soil in landfills where they end up, at the end of their short life.
RECYCLE YOUR VAPES
QUIT VAPING
Easy to say, and sometimes it can also be easy to do—especially if vaping is not an addiction but only a ‘cool’ thing to do.

For those who are more attached to vaping, finding alternative activities as substitutes might just make the difference between vaping and quitting.

There is no other alternative that’s more human‑friendly and climate‑friendly then quitting, when it comes to vaping.
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