GFN•TV: News and Interviews

Dr Arielle Selya presents a review of the common flaws in observational research on e-cigarette use and discusses the impact that these flaws have on study conclusions. Dr Selya offers suggestion on how future studies in the field could be improved. #GFN25ScienceLab

In this episode, we unpack the hidden environmental cost of vaping - from millions of discarded devices and batteries to ecosystem contamination - and why awareness isn’t translating into action. The conversation highlights a major gap: many users recognize the harm, but far fewer know how (or where) to recycle, and only a minority actually do. We also explore what could change the outcome: clearer product labeling, education that’s practical (not fear-based), better recycling infrastructure, and shared responsibility between governments, manufacturers, retailers, and users—moving toward a circular-economy approach to nicotine products.

In this GFN News interview, Aylen Van Isseldyk (creator of the global research project Circular Vape Recycling) explains the hidden environmental impact of vaping devices—from hard-to-degrade plastics and lithium batteries to the structural barriers that make e-cigarette recycling so difficult. ​ We also discuss why awareness alone isn’t enough, what manufacturers and institutions can do (eco-design, modular/reusable devices, and extended producer responsibility), and how users can help by returning devices to collection points and choosing more sustainable options.

Join us at the Global Forum on Nicotine 2026 in Warsaw and be part of the only truly open conference on safer nicotine, tobacco harm reduction and the real impacts of prohibition on public health. Hear leading scientists, clinicians, ethicists and advocates discuss social, health and economic consequences of bans, explore strategies to reach marginalized groups, and discover the latest research in our popular Science Lab sessions. Keynotes from pioneers like Dr Alex Wodak and other international experts, plus multilingual streaming and a dedicated Spanish-language session, make GFN 2026 a must-attend event for anyone serious about nicotine policy and harm reduction. ​ Ready to join the discussion? Visit GFN.EVENTS to register!

Public health says it wants to end smoking. Yet from London to Brussels, policymakers are advancing measures that treat safer nicotine like combustible tobacco—through high taxes, public bans, and regulatory equalization. In the UK, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill hands sweeping powers to the Secretary of State. In the EU, new tax schemes could bind member states and redirect national excise revenue to Brussels.

In this GFN interviews, Martin Cullip argues these measures converge into what he calls “pro-smoking” policy—undermining harm reduction, eroding national sovereignty, and putting millions of adult consumers across Europe at risk.

Featuring:
MARTIN CULLIP
Intl. Fellow, Taxpayers Protection Alliance
protectingtaxpayers.org
@Protectaxpayers
@NannyFreeState

UK disposable vape ban: what’s changed, what hasn’t, and what’s next? In this episode of GFN News, Joanna Junak speaks with John Dunne (UK Vaping Industry Association) about how the market is responding to new regulation - rising black market activity, the shift from disposables to pod/open-tank systems, and why consumer behavior (including recycling) is still a challenge. They also address public confusion about relative harm compared to smoking, concerns around youth uptake, and why nicotine pouches may grow as an alternative in places where vaping isn’t practical.

In today's Science Lab session, Dr Layla Malt (Imperial Brands) presents findings from two behavioural studies conducted among UK adult smokers. It tracks product use over time and efficacy for smoking cessation, and also examined the role of flavours. #GFN25ScienceLab

In this episode of Science Series with Roberto Sussman, we tackle a deceptively simple question: how do you determine optimal vaping settings in a laboratory? Roberto explains why machine “puffing” can produce unrealistic overheating conditions that real users would immediately avoid (too hot, bad taste), and how that can distort measurements and conclusions in some studies. We also cover the “dry puff”/dry heat phenomenon, why airflow and power settings matter, and how modern devices differ from early closed “cigalike” systems.

Samuel Hampsher-Monk (ARAC), explores how person-centered thinking applies to the global nicotine and tobacco policy landscape. He explains how effective harm reduction depends not only on the availability of safer alternatives but also on consistent, evidence-based public health messaging. #GFN25ScienceLab

Todd Prochnau presents a pharmacist's review of Canadian guidance on alcohol consumption and how the principles of patient-centred care and informed decision making can be applied to both alcohol and nicotine products.