The influencer whose tweet led to a ban on disposable vapes
Laura realised her message had struck a chord when a TikTok video she created was viewed 10.5 million times.It led to a prominent newspaper campaign and then calls from government officials requesting meetings with ministers.She told BBC Scotland News: "If you look up disposable vapes, (mine) is the first (tweet) that comes up."Within five weeks it had made the headlines and of course everyone was showing where these vapes were."
The year after Laura first raised the issue, the Scottish government commissioned an urgent report into the impact of single use vapes on the environment and on young people.It revealed that 2.7 million vapes had been littered on Scotland's streets in a single year - about 10%t of the total consumed.The report also found that 22% of all under-18s - about 78,000 people - were using vapes. But it was the environmental impact which concerned Laura the most.She said: "They begin to fall apart. They get broken, they get damaged and the metal can pop tyres so it's a really big problem."
In the same year that Laura first launched her campaign, it emerged that a fire which destroyed a recycling facility in Aberdeen had "most likely" been caused by a discarded vape.The devices contain lithium-ion batteries which, when damaged, can spontaneously combust.The blaze took just 10 seconds to take hold and the entire facility has had to be rebuilt.The Scottish ban was first proposed in February 2024 and was due to be introduced last April.The UK and Welsh governments then confirmed they would follow suit and the Scottish ban was delayed by two months to bring them all into line.
Retailers have been increasingly providing recycling bins in shops so the devices can be disposed of properly.But Laura says she's probably collected thousands of littered vapes over the last few years.She adds: "It's was fantastic to know that throughout the campaign we were really building up momentum. We had lots of councils support a ban, we had the Scottish government putting out reports and then, of course, we had the commitment to a ban.Laura says she's incredibly proud of what's been achieved but adds that the campaigning has also raised the issue of other disposable technologies and how damaging that is for the environment.She's not sure what campaign she might start next but admits that she's received a very long list of suggestions from family and friends.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
26 minutes ago
- The Independent
UK university tuition fees could rise again
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is considering allowing universities to raise tuition fees annually in line with inflation to improve their financial stability. This follows a previous announcement that tuition fees, frozen at £9,250 since 2017, would increase in September 2025 based on the Retail Price Index. The proposal addresses concerns about the financial health of universities, with a report indicating 40 per cent of English institutions may face budget deficits this year. A significant factor contributing to universities' financial struggles is a decline in the number of international students. Labour's position on tuition fees has evolved, with Keir Starmer retracting his pledge to abolish them, now seeking a "fairer solution" due to affordability concerns.
The Independent
26 minutes ago
- The Independent
Sturgeon: I was not victim of ‘coercive control' by former mentor Salmond
Former first minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon rejected claims she had been the victim of coercive control by her predecessor Alex Salmond, although she said she wished she had done more to stand up against his 'bullying' of others. She also said that her confidence could be 'knocked' by disapproval from Mr Salmond – saying her former boss and one-time mentor 'probably played on that a little bit'. And while she said she had heard rumours of 'consensual affairs', she had no knowledge of any 'inappropriate sexual behaviour on his part'. The former SNP leader spoke about her relationship with Mr Salmond as she appeared at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on Thursday. While she said they had an 'incredibly successful partnership' at one point, their relationship broke down after allegations against Mr Salmond emerged. The former first minister went on trial on a series of sexual assault charges in 2020, with this resulting in Mr Salmond being acquitted of all the charges against him. Speaking about him to broadcaster Kirsty Wark, Ms Sturgeon said: 'I did not have knowledge of inappropriate behaviour on his part, any inappropriate sexual behaviour.' However, she said: 'I heard rumours over the years about affairs, consensual affairs. I took the view, rightly or wrongly, that that was none of my business, what consenting adults get up to is their business.' Pressing the former first minister on her relationship with her predecessor, Ms Wark said that Ms Sturgeon's newly published memoirs, Frankly, portrayed Mr Salmond as 'almost Svengali like'. The journalist added: 'In a way, there's almost like a thread of coercive control at some times in this book from Alex Salmond.' Ms Sturgeon rejected this, saying she 'wouldn't describe it as that'. She said Mr Salmond, who died in October 2024, had been 'an incredibly strong, incredibly charismatic individual', adding that for much of her life 'he was a force for good'. Speaking about him, Ms Sturgeon said: 'He encouraged me to reach beyond what I would have considered my abilities to be, he pushed me on. 'I once said, ages ago, that he believed in me before I believed in myself.' But she added that 'his approval mattered to me and his disapproval knocked my confidence'. Ms Sturgeon continued: 'Latterly, he probably played on that a little bit.' Ms Wark suggested that Mr Salmond had 'definitely undermined' Ms Sturgeon 'a lot of the time'. The former first minister, however, told her: 'He also bolstered me a lot of the time.' Recalling Mr Salmond, Ms Sturgeon said that to describe him as a bully 'is maybe putting it too strongly', but she added that 'he could behave in a bullying manner'. Asked if she challenged his behaviour, the former first minister stated: 'I don't think I did it enough, but yes, I did. 'I would on occasion, people would have seen me do it, when he was giving the hairdryer treatment to whatever member of staff, I would say, 'enough Alex'.' But she added: 'I wish I had done it more.' After she took over as leader of the SNP, Mr Salmond had advised her not to keep her then husband, Peter Murrell, in his post as chief executive of the party. At the time, Ms Sturgeon rejected this, with Mr Murrell only stepping down from the role in March 2023 – the month after Ms Sturgeon announced her decision to step down as first minister and SNP leader. She said: 'I can look back now and say, maybe, I should have taken a different decision. 'That is something I probably got wrong.' The couple have now separated and, in March this year, the former SNP chief executive appeared in court charged with embezzlement following a police investigation into party finances, However, Ms Sturgeon insisted that she 'did not think' her decision to keep her then-husband in his party role was the start of the the 'fissure' in her relationship with Mr Salmond. 'I don't think that created any tension between us,' she said.
The Independent
26 minutes ago
- The Independent
K18's new heat protectant may be pricey, but its longevity is unmatched
K18 is fast becoming my go-to brand for effective hair repair formulas, so I jumped at the chance to try its new heatbounce heat protection spray (£48, As the eighth product in its roster, the brand now has an all encompassing collection that covers all your needs, including cleansing, conditioning, smoothing, volumising, repairing and protecting. First, the molecular repair leave-in conditioner (£30, convinced loyal Olaplex users to make the switch to K18. Then came the airwash dry shampoo ( which had even sceptical TikTokers defending its £48 price tag. And now, I'm left wondering – could the brand's latest release really be worth yet another £48? As a beauty writer who tests haircare products day on the daily, I'm not an easy test subject to win over, but even I can't deny heatbounce's unique appeal: that its protection lasts through multiple styling sessions. Scroll on for my honest verdict after trialling with a variety of heat tools. How I tested Testing over the course of three weeks (with early access to the product), I used K18's heatbounce conditioning heat protection spray on my hair in three different settings: before using my hair dryer, before using hair straighteners and before using a hair curler. I applied enough spray to adequately coat my fine-medium thickness hair (around 10 pumps), before brushing and styling as usual. During use, I paid attention to the following criteria: Scent: I considered whether the formula had a scent and, if so, whether it was pleasant or had staying power post-styling Ease of use: With such a high price tag, I wanted a small amount of the formula to go a long way, so I noted how moveable the liquid was once on the hair itself, plus the surface coverage of the mister (was it a fine, widespread mist or more of a powerful stream?) Conditioning benefits: The product mentions conditioning in its name, so I assessed whether or not my hair felt moisturised or dry after use. Protection effectiveness: When my hair suffers heat damage, it leaves a bitter odor in the damage's wake, which was convenient when testing a heat protector. In addition to this unpleasant scent, I inspected my hair post-drying, curling and straightening for any signs of brittleness and notable split ends. However, the latter was more difficult to associate with this particular product, rather than any prior heat damage. Why you can trust IndyBest reviews Lucy Smith has been reviewing haircare products for IndyBest since July 2024 and is well-versed on the best products for all hair types and conditions, be they straight, curly or dyed. Specifically, she's headed up The Independent 's guides to the best hair brushes, the best leave-in conditioners and the best shampoos and conditioners, not to mention speaking with expert hairdressers and trichologists. As someone who curls her hair two to three times a week, she was well placed to test K18's latest heat protectant and had a number of tools at her disposal to do so.
