The popularity of e-cigarettes around the world is evident to all, but at the same time, some problems and controversies have arisen. As the old Chinese saying goes, “a big tree will draw or catch lots of wind.“
E-cigarettes are popular because of their variety of flavors and disposable features, but these features have also made them controversial.
Many countries have banned e-cigarettes with flavors, mainly for the protection of minors. They are concerned that minors will be attracted to the flavors of e-cigarettes and become addicted to nicotine dependence. Minors represent the future of the country and the hope of the nation, and it is the common responsibility of the whole society to protect their healthy growth. Therefore, the regulatory authorities of various countries are actively enforcing a high-pressure crackdown on illegal e-cigarettes to firmly curb the infringement of e-cigarettes on minors.
In addition, disposable e-cigarettes are regarded as electronic products. Due to the disposable character, and daily discarded-cigarette devices that cause serious environmental pollution. To address this problem, many countries have introduced relevant policies. For example, New Zealand requires the batteries of disposable e-cigarettes to be removable or rechargeable to minimize the negative impact on the environment.
Given the various situations of disposable e-cigarettes today, some professionals have predicted a development trend of disposable e-cigarettes in 2024.
Which mainly includes the following 4 aspects:
- Electronic cigarettes with screens will be more popular
In the current market, considering the diverse needs of consumers, increasing enthusiasm for the product experience, brands must continue to innovate and improve their products to meet consumer expectations and needs in order to stand out in the fierce competition. E-cigarettes with a screen will become the next breakout feature. As time goes on, the screen size will continue to increase and even touchable large screen designs will appear one day. By reducing the complexity of button operation, increasing the convenience of visualization and providing a better interactive experience, e-cigarettes with a screen not only meet consumer demand, but also give the brand more differentiated competitive advantage.
- Market growth of refillable and bottled liquid e-cigarette
In Europe, the market share of refillable e-cigarettes is expected to grow, contributing to the stricter regulation of e-cigarettes and increased environmental awareness. This change is mainly due to the convenience and environmental protection characteristics of refillable e-cigarettes, making them the choice of more and more consumers.
In addition, Southeast Asia is relatively backward economically, which makes price an important factor for consumers to choose e-cigarettes. Especially in Indonesia, according to Regulation No. 192/PML.010/2022, from January 1, 2023, the e-liquid tax on closed (disposable) e-cigarettes is much higher than that on bottled e-liquid. This tax policy makes open disposable e-cigarettes and bottled e-liquid more popular for vapers in Southeast Asia who are sensitive to that price.
In addition, the variety of flavors and options bottled e-liquid offered are also favored by more consumers in Southeast Asia. This variety of choices satisfies the taste needs of different consumers, further promoting the diversification of the e-cigarette market in the region.
PS: In order to meet the market demand, many e-cigarette companies choose to invest and build their own factories in Indonesia and other Southeast Asian regions. For example, our company founded a special factory in Indonesia and developed four popular e-liquid flavors : strawberry, iced tea, mango and grape.
- MEMS integrated sensor will be applied on a large scale
In disposable e-cigarettes, the sensor plays a crucial role, similar to the sensory organs of the human body. It can keenly capture the negative pressure changes generated when the user inhales, and this change is like a signal that is transmitted to the control circuit of the electronic cigarette. This is like the human brain receiving the command to inhale. Once the control circuit “senses” this signal, it triggers the internal mechanism of the e-cigarette to start working and produce smoke.
It is worth noting that the sensitivity of the sensor has a decisive influence on the starting performance of the electronic cigarette. If the sensor has a high sensitivity, it will cause the e-cigarette to be over-sensitive and even accidentally trigger the start without the user inhaling. On the other hand, if the sensitivity is too low, it will not be able to accurately detect the user’s inhalation, resulting in the e-cigarette not starting normally.The microphone used in disposable e-cigarettes in the past has mainly been an electret microphone, and there are some disadvantages of electret microphones, including susceptibility to environmental interference resulting in unstable signal transmission, low sensitivity and poor results in high-noise environments. With the character of limited durability, which requires regular replacement, high manufacturing costs, and large size that is not conducive to miniaturization and integration.
Thus, in 2024, MEMS integrated microphone head is likely to replace the electret microphone head, MEMS integrated microphone head is the application of microelectromechanical systems in the field of electronic cigarettes, with a small size, high sensitivity, high reliability and other advantages. Compared with the traditional electret microphone head, it can better adapt to the demand for miniaturization and integration, and improve the user experience and the response speed of the e-cigarette.
- Environmentally friendly materials are used for e-cigarette packaging and casing to reduce the impact on the environment
With the growing awareness of environmental protection, e-cigarette manufacturers in Europe have begun to take active measures to minimize their impact on the environment. One important initiative is the use of biodegradable materials, such as PLA (polylactic acid) and PBAT (poly adipic acid/butylene terephthalate) to manufacture e-cigarette packaging and casings.
Both PLA and PBAT are biodegradable and environmentally friendly materials; PLA can be decomposed by microorganisms into water and carbon dioxide without generate any hazardous substances, while PBAT combines a variety of acids with good biodegradability, thermal stability and ductility, and is easy to process, making it widely used in the manufacture of packages and casings.
Considering the dramatic changes that have taken place in the appearance and functionality of disposable e-cigarettes, we need to delve into the extent to which such changes have affected their inherent characteristics.
First, as for portability. If the battery is designed to be rechargeable, the size of the device will increase, which will affect its portability. However, it still can be possible to maintain its portability if it is thoughtfully designed, such as using more advanced battery technology or optimizing the internal structure. In addition, a rechargeable design leads to longer usage time and better user experience, attracting more consumers.
Second, about flavor diversity. If disposable e-cigarettes become monotonous in flavor, they will lose those consumers who prefer a variety of flavors.However, for some users, a single-flavor e-cigarette will be more convenient to use because they do not need to choose between multiple cartridges. Additionally, some users prefer reusable cartridges so that they can change cartridges to suit their personal tastes without having to purchase a new device.
Finally, regarding appearance. Banning peculiar shaped disposable e-cigarettes will reduce the unique character, but it doesn’t lose market share. Many consumers are more focused on the performance and taste of the product than on its appearance. Besides, manufacturers can differentiate their products in other ways, such as by appealing to consumers through branding, design and price.
As a disposable e-cigarette brand, ANTBAR, and an open pod and pod mod type e-cigarette brand, SMOANT, we have decided to adjust our product design and use more environmentally friendly materials for the casing aimed at protecting the environment. Through these initiatives, we hope to meet the needs of our consumers in a sustainable way while minimizing our negative impact on the environment. We firmly believe that only by working together can we create a better, greener future.
