Light made from vapes highlights our waste culture
A luminaire made from used vapes from the streets of London has been created by a designer fed up with finding the discarded electronic cigarettes in his neighbourhood.
The ELFBAR vapes are disassembled, cleaned and reassembled by Matthew Kavanagh of Diplomat Design before incorporation in a giant suspended shade that dissipates the uplight from a crown-silver lamp.
The light source has the effect of illuminating the ELFBARs and casting a soft diffused light upwards.
The colour of each light is informed by the vapes that have been collected for it, resulting in a unique piece each time.
A chandelier version of the vape light uses the internal tube with its graduated colour over a mirror steel finish to create a dramatic lit effect. A second rubber component is also used and re-purposed to allow the tubes to be hung straight.
The tubes are arranged below an LED spotlight which illuminates the tubes and creates a pattern on the floor. As with the ELFBAR light, the Crystal vape first needs to be disassembled and cleaned.
The ELFBAR light has been nominated for a Build Back Better Award in the 2024 lighting category.
The creation of the light from discarded vapes highlights the ongoing challenge of electronic cigarette waste.
E-cigarettes, particularly disposable ones like ELFBARs, are becoming an increasing environmental concern.
These devices are often made from a mix of plastics, metals, and electronics, making them difficult to recycle.
As more people take up vaping, the improper disposal of these products is causing a surge in waste that is not easily managed by conventional recycling methods. The unique approach taken by designer Matthew Kavanagh transforms what is typically harmful litter into something both visually striking and functional.
By repurposing vapes into lighting fixtures, the project draws attention to the environmental issues posed by single-use electronics while offering a creative solution.
The process of disassembling, cleaning, and incorporating these vapes into new designs showcases the potential for upcycling, but it also underscores how cumbersome recycling e-cigarettes truly is. Each component has to be meticulously separated, which is labour-intensive and not easily scalable for widespread recycling.
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