Nicotine pouches: a new source of plastic pollution

A study[1] from the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (Miljøstyrelsen) highlights the growing ecological consequences of nicotine pouch consumption. According to estimates by researchers at DTU Sustain, nearly 5.3 million pouches are disposed of in nature in Denmark each year, representing approximately 3.3 tons of waste, including half a ton of plastic-like materials. These findings highlight the emergence of a new type of pollution linked to oral nicotine products, the use of which is rapidly increasing among young people. The pouches still contain significant amounts of nicotine after use and could pose risks to wildlife and the environment.

The report is based on a multidisciplinary approach combining field surveys, laboratory analyses, and environmental modeling. The researchers first conducted a survey of approximately 40 Danish users aged 15 to 35 to identify the most common nicotine pouch brands, durations of use, and methods of disposing of these pouches after use. At the same time, chemical analyses were conducted on several brands present on the Danish market (VELO, Volt, ZoneX, Gritt, among others) to determine the composition of the material, the nicotine level, and the presence of other substances. Finally, the data from this work made it possible to estimate the total quantity of pouches abandoned in nature, based on average daily consumption and the behaviors reported by users. The researchers also used infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to identify the exact nature of the materials and their potential for degradation in the environment.

Materials similar to plastics

The report's findings confirm that nicotine pouches are not simply biodegradable products, as manufacturers suggest. Analyses conducted by DTU Sustain researchers revealed that these pouches are primarily made of regenerated cellulose fibers, a semi-synthetic material derived from the natural cellulose of wood or cotton. This industrial process chemically modifies the structure of the cellulose to make it stronger, more flexible, and more suitable for forming into non-woven fibers. To ensure the pouch is watertight and tightly sealed, manufacturers add a thermoplastic polymer, often made from biodegradable polyesters, which melts under heat and seals the edges.

Spectroscopic analyses (FTIR) have shown that the composition of these materials bears a strong similarity to that of cellulose acetate cigarette filters, one of the main contributors to global plastic pollution. While cellulose is a naturally occurring and theoretically biodegradable material, its transformation into semi-synthetic fibers alters this capacity: the chemical bonds created during the regeneration process considerably slow down degradation in the environment.

Thus, nicotine pouches fall into a gray area between organic matter and plastic, making their classification complex. In practice, their environmental behavior—resistance to decomposition, persistence in the natural environment, and potential production of microplastics during fragmentation—brings them closer to traditional plastics. The researchers emphasize that under natural conditions, their degradation could take several years, or even more than a decade, a similar process to that observed for cigarette filters.

This similarity also raises regulatory questions: although nicotine pouches do not contain tobacco, their material and environmental impact are partly comparable to those of tobacco product waste. The report therefore calls for the integration of these new products into plastic pollution prevention policies and extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes, similar to what is now required for cigarette filters under the European directive on single-use plastics.

Nicotine residues toxic to animals and aquatic environments

The Danish study highlights that nicotine pouches retain a significant amount of nicotine after use. Analyses conducted on VELO brand products indicate that an average of 63 % of the initial nicotine content remains in discarded pouches, which represents a concentration sufficient to cause toxic effects in the event of accidental ingestion. This finding calls into question the idea that these products, which are tobacco-free and presented as "clean" or "modern," would have no environmental consequences.

Nicotine residue poses a direct risk to both domestic and wild animals. Several cases of dog poisoning have been reported in Denmark after ingesting used pouches left in public spaces. According to toxicological data cited by Miljøstyrelsen, a dose of 46 to 91 mg of nicotine can be lethal for a seven-kilogram dog, while some brands contain up to 25 mg of nicotine per pouch before use. Symptoms of poisoning include vomiting, neurological disorders, convulsions, and, in the most severe cases, respiratory arrest. These risks also affect wildlife, particularly birds and small mammals, which may mistake these soft, white residues for food.

Beyond the immediate danger of ingestion, the dispersion of nicotine in the environment poses a broader ecological problem. Nicotine is an alkaloid naturally occurring in tobacco plants, historically used as an insecticide due to its toxicity to invertebrates. In ecosystems, it can affect the nervous system of insects, crustaceans, and other aquatic organisms at very low concentrations. According to data from the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), nicotine is classified as toxic to aquatic organisms with chronic effects (category 2), with a no observed effect concentration (NOEC) of 3 mg/L in fish and a chronic effect concentration (LOEC) of 0.02 mg/L in daphnia (small crustaceans).

While nicotine is partially biodegradable, its continued release into soil and water can lead to chronic exposure for ecosystems. The gradual accumulation of these residues in urban areas, rivers, or stormwater drainage systems could therefore contribute to diffuse contamination, the long-term effects of which remain poorly understood. The Miljøstyrelsen researchers call for further studies to assess the actual toxicity and degradation rate of the pouches under natural environmental conditions, as well as for awareness campaigns to prevent their disposal in the environment.

A challenge for waste management and European regulations

Beyond their direct environmental impact, nicotine pouches raise new issues in terms of waste management. As Miljøstyrelsen points out, these products are generally sold in small, rigid plastic boxes, most often made of polypropylene (PP), a theoretically recyclable material. These boxes have a main compartment containing new pouches and, under the lid, a space for depositing used pouches when the user does not have a bin nearby. While this device is presented as a practical and "clean" solution, it actually creates confusion in sorting practices: consumers frequently throw away the boxes without emptying them, which prevents the plastic from being recycled and contaminates household waste streams.

The researchers point out that the presence of nicotine and other chemicals in used pouches can compromise the quality of recycled materials. When the boxes are sorted with their contents, pouches soaked in nicotine residue are mixed into the recycling chain, often requiring the entire batch to be disposed of for health reasons. Otherwise, the boxes thrown in household waste end up in incineration streams, contributing to the increase in the volume of unrecycled plastic waste.

On the regulatory front, Miljøstyrelsen believes that nicotine pouches should be considered in European policies to combat plastic pollution, just like cigarette filters. The latter are now subject to an extended producer responsibility (EPR) system under the European Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD), requiring manufacturers to finance collection, cleaning, and public awareness. Nicotine pouches, while not containing tobacco, have similar characteristics in terms of composition, persistence, and environmental risks.

©Generation Without Tobacco

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[1] Ny report: Millioner af nikotinpose smides i naturen, Danish Environmental Protection Agency, April 2024, accessed 20 October 2025