Vaping: Good for the Environment?
People often think of vaping for many reasons. It could be anything from simple fashion sense to loving the flavor of the vape to using it to quit smoking or to be able to get their nicotine without having to go outside etc. Indeed there are many reasons why people vape.
But one thing that’s often overlooked is that vaping is actually an ecological net positive compared to traditional cigarettes.
Source Materials:
It all boils down to source materials. Vape juices are made from pure high-quality essences and pharma grade nicotine (ingredients often subject to high level lab scrutiny) and vaping is an extremely efficient use of resources because of this. On the other hand, tobacco cigarettes rely on one of the world’s crops most known for its destructive impact on the environment, both in the amount of water it consumes, and its negative effects on the quality of the soil. The French actually destroyed many of the most fertile lands of Haiti over the years by turning it into a big tobacco plantation.
The Litter Factor:
There is no second hand smoke to speak of from vaping. We all know, of course, about the effects of second hand smoke from regular cigarettes. And another lesser known fact is that cigarette buts are actually the number one cause of litter in cities all over the world, accounting for approximately 80% of all street litter in major cities. This is not just like a piece of gum or paper in the street, or even food garbage. These are harborers of nasty bacteria, and contain all the same chemicals cigarettes contain. This of course can wind up in the water tables etc.
The Manufacturing Process:
Vape kits, of course, do contain things like batteries, which need to be properly disposed of at the right time. However, the footprint of the tobacco manufacturing industry is massive and nasty by nature. And the industrial wastes from cigarette productions include such substances as toluene, methyl ethyl ketone, ammonia, and sulphuric and hydrochloric acids. As you can see, cigarettes are a problem much deeper than it would appear on the surface.
So if you are a habitual cigarette smoker, switching over to vape is not only healthier, and may be the means to end your nicotine addiction, it’s also a positive move in an ecological sense. If you didn’t have enough reasons to stop cigarettes by now, you now have one more big one.
