This is part of a regular series of MJBizDaily interviews with major THC industry players. To be considered for an interview, contact editorial@mjbizdaily.com.
Pax Labs refused to make an all-in-one cannabis vape for years.
The California vape company had a reason: Single-use devices – in which the battery, hardware and oil come in one unit that consumers throw away when it’s empty – pose some of the biggest sustainability challenges in the cannabis industry.
But it’s hard to ignore their popularity among consumers. Disposable vapes have overtaken cartridges in sales in the cannabis vape market, according to data from BDSA.
And now Pax is making them, too.
Why did Pax change its stance on all-in-one cannabis vapes?
Laura Fogelman, the company’s chief of staff and vice president of communications, said the shift shows that sustainability in cannabis isn’t about avoiding challenging product categories. It’s about deciding how to compete in them.
And that starts with consumer behavior.
“You have to meet the consumer where they are,” Fogelman said.
Fogelman will make that case Dec. 3 at MJBizCon 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, joining a panel titled “From Hardware to Packaging: Building a More Sustainable Cannabis Ecosystem.”
Pax resisted the all-in-one category on principle. The company built its pen-and-pod system to improve performance and reduce waste.
A rechargeable device paired with replaceable pods sends less hardware to the trash than a single-use product, Fogelman said.
But the market was moving in another direction. With all-in-ones becoming the fastest-growing segment of the vape market, Pax had to decide whether staying out still made sense.
“If we enter this category, how do we give consumers a better alternative?” Fogelman said.
How did Pax approach sustainability in its all-in-one vape?
Pax’s answer was the Pax Trip.
The device incorporates ocean-bound plastic into components that don’t come into contact with users’ lips. Pax also partnered with rePurpose Global, an organization that operates plastic recovery programs worldwide.
According to Fogelman, Pax funds the recovery of twice as much plastic as it uses through the partnership, an arrangement the company says has earned it plastic-negative certification.
However, plastic recovery programs do not necessarily eliminate the environmental impact of manufacturing or disposing of single-use vape devices.
“When we look at our plastic footprint, we hope we’re doing more good than bad,” Fogelman said.
How does sustainability affect a company’s bottom line?
Fogelman said Pax’s commitment to sustainability has resonated with both retail buyers and consumers, but that commitment comes at a cost.
Ocean-bound plastic requires a separate supply chain, adding to the investment needed for sourcing and testing to ensure the material holds up.
The material is also more expensive than conventional plastic, and Pax still has to price the Trip competitively against cheaper all-in-ones on the same shelf.
The result is a hit to margins. Fogelman said Pax accepts that trade-off as part of putting out products the company can stand behind.
“Price and convenience are the largest drivers of purchasing decisions,” Fogelman said. “Cannabis consumers do care, but you have to give them a compelling reason to change.”
Would changing regulations solve the waste problem?
Fogelman, a California Cannabis Industry Association board member, said regulations often work against sustainability goals.
She pointed to RFID tags used in cannabis track-and-trace systems as an example, arguing that their widespread use creates additional waste that can be difficult to recycle.
“There’s a lot of stuff that’s well-intentioned but has such unintended consequences,” Fogelman said.
California’s SB 54 packaging law, which requires producers to reduce single-use plastic waste, also applies to cannabis businesses that meet the law’s criteria. Fogelman said many operators were caught off guard and remain unaware of their potential obligations.
Plastic is only part of the issue. Vape batteries can end up in landfills, where they pose fire risks.
“Our appetite for innovation and new technology outpaces our willingness to address the environmental implications,” Fogelman said, noting that recycling collection alone won’t fix the problem.
“Just because something is recyclable doesn’t mean it’s getting recycled, and breaking any electronics device into component parts takes significant labor,” she said.
What’s next for sustainable cannabis vaping?
Fogelman argued that calls to ban single-use vapes oversimplify the debate. Instead, the industry needs standards that support recycling infrastructure designed for these products.
“It’s hard to change consumer behavior,” Fogelman said. “It’s much easier to design products that are better for the world.”
The broader challenge for cannabis vape manufacturers is whether they can reduce the environmental impact of disposable products without sacrificing the convenience and affordability driving consumer demand.
Industry leaders such as Fogelman will explore how cannabis businesses can balance sustainability, consumer demand and profitability at MJBizCon 2026, Dec. 1-4 in Las Vegas.
Register for MJBizCon 2026 here.
Margaret Jackson can be reached at margaret.jackson@mjbizdaily.com.
