UK-based Aron Byrne-Carter is a well-known expert in the new generation products (NGP) field. Through his aptly named company, NGP Trends, he provides businesses with valuable technical insights on the latest developments across vape, heated tobacco, and nicotine products. Aron’s advice through in-depth reports, customized consulting, and workshops sup-ports and enables the development of consumer-centric products in this space. His solutions help unlock consumer value gained from technology benefits in this extremely fast-moving product group.
Tobacco Asia (TA): Aron, looking at 2023, what is going to become predominant as far as vaping is concerned, open or closed systems? I mean, both have their practical advantages, but also their disadvantages.
Aron Byrne-Carter (AC): To me that is quite a simple answer. For consumer reassurance and control, closed systems will continue to be the key trend here. They are easier to handle. Open systems are available for the hobbyist and the vape enthusiast, but if you look at the growing trend of disposable vape options, the majority of nicotine users want simplicity. And closed systems offer exactly that.
TA: So it’s a matter of going into a shop, buying a device and simply puff away, right?
AC: Yeah, that’s it really. [Closed system] devices have come a long way from 10 years ago, even 5 years ago. Users who want to quit cigarettes don’t want to be overwhelmed and put off by technology. They want simplicity. For some users, even charging a device can be a bit of a pain. That’s why they choose a disposable.
TA: One of the buzz words in the NGP sector right now is, of course, “smartphone integration.” What do NGPs have to do with smartphones? What are the benefits of such an integration and, more importantly perhaps, how does it actually work?
AC: We’re looking at being able to connect [with the NGP device] through a Bluetooth app installed on the smartphone. Obviously, we are not going to be telling the time or sending a message from our vape device. Instead, the benefits here are to lock your personal device or brands being able to strengthen age verification. Youth access prevention is a big feature in Bluetooth connectivity. If your vape device gets in the hands of one of your kids, you will have locked it so they can’t use it. Also, smartphone integration adds another layer of protection when purchasing the device as well. Some devices would only be able to be activated through Bluetooth once verified through that app. Then there is the “lost device” function, which helps you to locate your misplaced device. Users that want to track their nicotine consumption or how many puffs they have left also will find a “my vape” feature helpful. And then there are some devices that allow for power control and other settings through the smartphone app, for example adjusting vapor density.
TA: You were mentioning age verification. How does that work exactly?
AC: Basically, if a device is purchased online, you will have to use your passport or national ID number so an age verification check can be performed through the app – which by the way also only can be downloaded and installed if you are of legal age. Another possibility is that once you receive the device by mail, it cannot be used unless you connect it to your app and verify your age. There aren’t really many brands doing that at the moment, but it’s one of the benefits that come along with smartphone connectivity.
TA: Aron, are caffeine vaporizers something that would belong into the NGP segment? Or is this a totally separate product category? I mean, it’s not really tobacco or nicotine related, is it?
AC: No, but I think caffeine vaporizers do belong in the NGP category nevertheless. Here at NGP Trends we are starting to look beyond nicotine as well. You know, people always are worried talking about the benefits of nicotine. But they exist. There are some benefits that people will use nicotine for, for example, for focus and alertness. In that context we can look at other active ingredients that might deliver similar benefits, caffeine being among them. How caffeine is absorbed in vapor compared to nicotine is a completely different question and not something I’m qualified to discuss. But NGPs can definitely be a vehicle for other active ingredients, such as caffeine.
TA: Okay, so as you said, the trend is definitely towards disposable closed systems. But the very term “disposable product” doesn’t sound very environmentally friendly. What’s being done in 2023 to make disposables more eco-friendly?
AC: Disposables are not environmentally friendly at all. It’s a shame, really, but in the end we have to look at the consumer. It’s all about simplicity and that’s what the consumer wants. You buy, use, dispose. But if the appeal of the product ought to revolve around simplicity, then you need to make recycling simple as well. BAT, for example, provides their NGP consumers with bags that I think can hold up to 30 or so devices; maybe more, actually. You fill up the bag, then drop it off at your local store. PMI is doing something similar, at least in the UK. They offer a free return with Royal Mail in the UK. The consumer scans a QR code to obtain a postage free return label, but you have to use your own bag or container. In the end, these initiatives are just reducing the carbon footprint slightly. What I think is really needed is a much broader arrangement that covers all vape shops, all retailers. I visited Manchester just before Christmas last year and did a little test on my own. In one city area I visited like 8, maybe 10, vape stores just to see if they would take my device back. And they couldn’t.
TA: There also are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of Chinese manufacturers of disposables, and I’m not sure whether they could care less what happens to their devices once they have been shipped over to Europe or the United States.
AC: Yeah, I think a bigger part of the recycling responsibility has to be put on the manufacturers. But to be fair, some manufacturers seem to be doing things to reduce their overall plastic use at least. Others are exploring making more modular devices that are easier to dissemble and recycle. It all has to be hand in hand, from the manufacturing side and also from the consumer side.
TA: Are we talking about sustainability in production and distribution now?
AC: Yes.
TA: Might sustainability be achieved easier than the actual recycling of disposables?
AC: Oh, yes. Green packaging is one way. For example, the NGP brand Feelm by Chinese company Smoore has come up with an interest-ing design concept, where the packaging itself is the actual device body. It’s only a concept at this point, but a truly intriguing one. The user pares off a marked label on the packaging, then pushes the cover down to reveal the mouthpiece. It works almost like a lipstick. Once the mouthpiece is revealed, the packaging itself becomes the device body. The device is then primed and draw activated. So, there are some initiatives, but sustainability really needs to be a much bigger driving force than it is right now.
TA: Last September, InterTabac in Dortmund saw a few Chinese companies that showcased ultrasonic heating instead of induction heating, though that was for heated tobacco devices, not vapes. So, is something happening at the heating technology front as well?
AC: Absolutely. These new heating technologies – also hot air heating, by the way – are being adopted by the big players, such as BAT, PMI, and Imperial. They are currently not on the market yet, but it’s definitely something that I think we’re going to see more of. So, yeah, interesting that InterTabac already exhibited some companies that are using [these methods], because they are emerging technologies that are going to play an increasingly important role in the future.