ANDS celebrates Golden Leaf Award

ANDS, distributor of alternative nicotine delivery systems, has earned the coveted Golden Leaf Award for its new 99 per cent plus recyclable and recoverable SLIX disposable vape.

The annual Golden Leaf awards recognise ‘outstanding contributions’ from companies associated with the global tobacco and nicotine sectors and this year saw a record number of entrant vying to become one of just six winners.

The Golden Leaf Award judges gave ‘special consideration’ to companies who displayed a ‘commitment to innovation and/or sustainability’ – two areas where ANDS has poured significant investment.

Responding to the win, ANDS Co-Founder and President Fadi Maayta said it is a ‘great honour’ to earn such an esteemed award and to be recognised as a brand which has put ‘product development and the environment at the top of its agenda’.

He said: “We are, and have always strived to be, market disruptors. Providing adults with a potentially less harmful avenue away from deadly combustible tobacco is, of course, firmly at the core of what we do – but this is not the only issue we are working hard to address.

“The single-use vape sector has been under increased scrutiny for its impact on the planet. The newly released SLIX is our initial answer to this pressing industry challenge.

“Product innovation – along with greater consumer education on recycling and more widely available, fit-for-purpose collection schemes – is key to reducing the environmental footprint of the disposable market.”

As part of the announcement of this year’s Golden Lead Award winners, it was said that a ban on the single-use category would see smokers ‘lose out on what many believe to be a convenient, accessible and compelling alternative to conventional cigarettes’ and that the new SLIX device has hit the market at the right time.

A study – commissioned by ANDS and conducted by Waste Experts – revealed the SLIX disposable creates 70 per cent less waste by weight, takes 57 per cent less time to dismantle and is 25% lighter and significantly less complex when compared to the market-leading brand.

The report, which was recently unveiled in the Houses of Parliament, also confirmed the SLIX device is 99.29 per cent recyclable and recoverable.

Maayta said: “We continue to invest in product innovation and are working tirelessly to counter the environmental impact of single-use vapes, including by correcting misperceptions that disposables cannot be recycled.”