German tobacco group: disposable vapes account for 30% of the market, down 10% from last year

The Dortmund-based Tobacco Free Alliance (BfTG) recently released industry estimates indicating that while disposable vapes remain mainstream in the mass market, their popularity has waned. Currently, disposable vapes account for 30% of the vaping market, a decline of 10 percentage points from 2022.

According to a report by the German news agency on September 14, the BfTG's recent industry estimates show that despite disposable vapes still being mainstream in the mass market, their popularity has decreased. Currently, disposable vapes account for 30% of the vaping market, down 10 percentage points from 2022. 

Shift in Vaping Consumption Patterns 

Despite their mainstream market presence, the popularity of disposable vapes among consumers is declining.

BfTG points out that the reason for this decline is the emergence of more sustainable vaping products, which only require the replacement of pods, while the vaping devices can be reused multiple times. The alliance's head, Dustin Dahlmann, stated that this year's trend is moving towards "sustainability." 

Environmentalists Criticize Disposable Products 

Moreover, many environmentalists criticize disposable vape products, pointing out that they must be completely discarded once the e-liquid is consumed, including the built-in batteries which are also non-recyclable, putting immense pressure on the environment. If these disposable products are improperly thrown in the trash, they could also cause fires. Environmentalists further criticize that these disposable electronic products represent a significant waste of resources.

Nowadays, many vaping suppliers have begun to adjust their product lines, with some companies launching reusable vaping devices that only require the replacement of the pods (Pod) to refill with new e-liquid. Dahlmann noted that the market share of these reusable products has reached 15% and is on the rise.

2023 Vaping Sales Expected to Grow 40% to €810 Million

In addition to these two types of vaping products, there is also a traditional vaping device that fills e-liquid, which is completely reusable and only requires adding e-liquid to the device, generating no waste.

Considering all vaping products, the growth rate of this emerging industry remains impressive. Based on a survey of alliance members (i.e., German distributors and manufacturers), BfTG predicts that vaping sales in Germany will reach €810 million in 2023, a 40% increase from 2022.

The Dortmund International Tobacco Exhibition, which starts today, features both tobacco companies and numerous vaping suppliers showcasing their products.

However, scientists have also issued warnings about vaping, noting that the flavored e-liquids, often containing nicotine, could pose potential health risks to consumers.