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Tag: Markus Lindblad

  • Haypp Working to Increase Efficiency, Sustainability in Industry

    Haypp Working to Increase Efficiency, Sustainability in Industry

    Haypp released its latest Sustainability Report, outlining measured progress in product quality controls and supply chain transparency as the company expands in the tobacco-free nicotine category. The report notes that all new nicotine pouch products launched since 2024 have been tested against internal and relevant standards, reflecting efforts to improve consistency and information availability in a fast-growing segment.

    “As the global leader in consumer insights within our field, we are uniquely positioned to influence and support the development of more sustainable products and services throughout the supply chain,” said Markus Lindblad, Haypp’s head of legal and external affairs. “Our ambition is to make sure that our growth can help positively influence the evolution of the nicotine pouch category towards a responsible and sustainable future.”

    The company also reports advances in mapping transport-related emissions, with data now collected from most logistics and last-mile delivery partners, and ongoing supplier screening under its Business Partner Code of Conduct.

  • Restricting Vapes Drives Smokers Back to Cigarettes: Opinion

    Restricting Vapes Drives Smokers Back to Cigarettes: Opinion

    A new commentary by Markus Lindblad, Head of External Affairs at Haypp Group, warns that parts of the UK’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill could backfire by driving some adults back to smoking. The bill, one of the world’s toughest anti-tobacco measures, includes a generational smoking ban for anyone born after 1 January 2009, new licensing rules, and tighter advertising limits. But Lindblad argues that proposed powers to restrict vape and nicotine-product flavors risk undermining the country’s smoke-free ambitions.

    “Flavors aren’t just a marketing tool; they are a behavioral and psychological aid that help smokers make the transition away from cigarettes,” Lindblad said. “When a smoker switches to vaping, the experience of flavor, combined with the absence of smoke and tar, creates a sense of progress and separation from the old habit. Removing that variety reduces satisfaction, increases relapse risk, and ultimately undermines harm-reduction goals.”

    Citing recent U.S. research, he says multiple large-scale studies show that state-level flavor bans reduce vaping but also lead to measurable increases in cigarette use. One JAMA study found that flavor restrictions were followed by higher smoking rates, while a 2024 analysis of 376,963 young adults reported a 3.6-point drop in daily vaping alongside a 2.2-point rise in daily smoking. Yale researchers similarly linked flavor bans to declining vape sales and rising cigarette sales across 44 states.

    Haypp’s own UK survey found that nearly one-third of vapers cite taste as a key advantage of vaping, and 28% say flavor is their top purchasing factor. When asked how they would respond to a flavor ban, almost a quarter said they would return to smoking — a result Lindblad says should concern public-health officials. He concludes that rather than banning flavors, policymakers should strengthen age checks, tighten marketing rules, and improve labeling — measures aimed at youth access without limiting options for adults trying to quit smoking.

  • We are no longer in the world of ‘unintended consequences’ – Why Restricting Vape Flavors Risks Driving Smokers Back to Cigarettes

    We are no longer in the world of ‘unintended consequences’ – Why Restricting Vape Flavors Risks Driving Smokers Back to Cigarettes

    By Markus Lindblad, Head of External Affairs, Haypp Group

    Across the world, governments are introducing increasingly tough policies to reduce smoking rates amongst adult populations and prevent young people from accessing nicotine products. 

    In the UK, we have the introduction of one of the strongest pieces of anti-tobacco legislation in the world with the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. This will introduce a generational smoking ban, making it illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born after 1 January 2009. Other measures included in the bill include the introduction of a licensing scheme for the retail of tobacco and nicotine products and new limits on the advertising and promotion of nicotine products. 

    Many of the measures proposed in the bill will indeed help the UK make progress towards a smoke-free future, and prevent youth access to nicotine products, however, others are almost certain to be counterproductive and lead to bad outcomes. 

    Foremost among these is a clause granting the Secretary of State powers to restrict the flavor of tobacco and nicotine products. I believe that using these powers to ban flavors would be a mistake. There are legitimate concerns about youth access to vapes or nicotine pouches, and there is a consensus that this issue needs to be addressed, but the international evidence shows us that restricting flavors is not the way to go about it. 

    Over the past two years, we have seen the publication of results from a number of large-scale studies on the impact of flavor bans at the state level in the USA. The results should give policymakers pause. 

    A study published this year in the Journal of the American Medical Association examined how flavor bans in seven U.S. states affected tobacco use. Researchers looked at data from 2013 to 2023 and found that while flavor restriction policies were associated with some reductions in e-cigarette use, there were also increases in cigarette use. 

    A 2024 study from the USA examined a dataset of 376,963 young adults (age 18 to 29 years) and found that state restrictions on flavored vape sales were associated with a 3.6 percentage point reduction in daily vaping, but also a 2.2 percentage point increase in daily smoking among young people. This increase in smoking rates, the authors highlight, potentially offsets any public health gains that might have been achieved by the flavor ban.

    Additional research from the Yale School of Public Health paints a similar picture. Using retail sales data from 44 US states, researchers discovered that following the introduction of flavor restrictions, cigarette sales rose as vape sales declined. In other words, when states restrict the availability of flavored vapes, they inadvertently push some smokers back to cigarettes, a behavior that is much worse in terms of health outcomes. 

    In each case, the intended outcome was to reduce vaping, but there was an unintentional increase in cigarette smoking. This is not a hypothetical outcome; it is observable and measurable in the data in each of the studies.

    The public debate around vape flavors often focuses on youth appeal, but it overlooks a critical dimension: the importance of flavors in helping adult smokers quit and stay smoke-free. Flavors aren’t just a marketing tool; they are a behavioral and psychological aid that help smokers make the transition away from cigarettes. 

    Our own research at Haypp underscores this point clearly. In a recent survey of 500 UK vapers, nearly one-third (30%) said that taste is one of the main advantages of vapes compared with other nicotine products. 28% said that flavor is the most important factor they consider when choosing a vape. These are not marginal preferences; they are decisive drivers of behavior. When asked how they would respond if a flavor ban were introduced, only 26% of vapers said they would continue to vape, while almost as many, 24%, said they would switch back to cigarettes. This finding should alarm anyone concerned with public health. It suggests that for UK vapers, a flavor ban may push a significant proportion of them back to a much more dangerous habit.

    Flavors also play a deeper psychological role in the process of smoking cessation. They help define the difference between smoking and alternative nicotine use, providing a sensory boundary that supports behavioral change. When a smoker switches to vaping, the experience of flavor, combined with the absence of smoke and tar, creates a sense of progress and separation from the old habit. Removing that variety reduces satisfaction, increases relapse risk, and ultimately undermines harm-reduction goals.

    The challenge for policymakers, then, is not whether to act but how to act responsibly. Blanket bans may appear decisive, but they are blunt instruments that often produce counterproductive outcomes. Given the breadth of evidence now available, we are no longer speaking about unintended consequences. The data shows that a ban on flavors will most likely lead to an increase in smoking rates. A more effective approach would focus on strict enforcement of age-verification measures, strict rules on responsible marketing, and clear product labelling, measures that address youth access directly without depriving adult smokers of an effective tool to quit. Youth access needs to be tackled, but we need to remember that for a smoker trying to quit, flavors are not a loophole; they are a lifeline. 

  • UK Public Strongly Backs Regulation of Nicotine Pouches, Survey Finds

    UK Public Strongly Backs Regulation of Nicotine Pouches, Survey Finds

    A new survey from Northerner UK found that the British public overwhelmingly supports stricter regulation of nicotine pouches and stronger safeguards for young people overall, as the government prepares to advance the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. According to the survey, 84% of respondents want the government to introduce new rules governing nicotine pouches, aligning their regulation with that of cigarettes and vapes. A further 82% support a licensing scheme for vape sales, while 81% back age restrictions on social media, and 75% approve of mandatory ID checks for online pornography.

    Markus Lindblad, head of external affairs at Northerner, said the results show strong alignment between the public, government, and responsible retailers.

    “At the moment, a legal loophole means that there is no minimum age limit on the purchase of nicotine pouches, and this has been exploited by unscrupulous retailers,” Lindblad said. “This survey shows that the public wants action, and there is strong support for the government’s move to close this loophole through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.”

  • Haypp Calls for Boycott on Champagne, France, After Pouch Ban

    Haypp Calls for Boycott on Champagne, France, After Pouch Ban

    Global nicotine pouch retailer Haypp is urging its customers to boycott champagne and avoid traveling to France as a holiday destination in response to the nation’s decision to impose a total ban on nicotine pouches and other oral nicotine products beginning in March 2026. While describing the campaign as “tongue-in-cheek,” Haypp’s head of legal and external affairs Markus Lindblad said France is removing safer alternatives for its roughly 23% smoking population, while allowing cancer-causing chewing tobacco to remain on the market.

    The ban, announced by the French government on September 5, will cover pouches, gums, and liquids unless classified as medicinal products or medical devices. Critics, including Sweden, Italy, and Greece, have warned that the move is disproportionate and undermines smoking reduction efforts. Lindblad is one of those critics, arguing the new law will criminalize possession as well as sale, meaning both residents and tourists could face fines or imprisonment for carrying nicotine pouches in France. U.K. holiday travelers and other visitors, he said, risk prosecution if caught with the products.

    Haypp also warned that prohibition could fuel black markets, driving nicotine pouch demand underground into unregulated channels, raising further health risks.

  • Haypp Strengthens U.S. Leadership with Legal and Regulatory Hires

    Haypp Strengthens U.S. Leadership with Legal and Regulatory Hires

    Haypp Group, the parent company of nicotine pouch retailers Nicokick.com and Northerner.com , publicized the appointments of Issa Abuaita as head of legal (U.S.), and Laura Leigh Oyler as vice president of regulatory affairs (U.S.). The move from earlier this year bolsters the company’s regulatory leadership as it expands in the U.S. market.

    Abuaita has more than a decade of legal experience, including FDA compliance and product authorization, while Oyler has more than 15 years of tobacco regulation experience from firms like PMI and Juul Labs.

    “We’re not just growing—we’re setting the bar on what a responsible and compliant nicotine pouch retailer looks like in 2025,” said Markus Lindblad, global head of legal and external affairs at Haypp Group. “Issa brings legal discipline, operational sharpness and peerless ability to decode the complex regulatory terrain, while Laura Leigh is a powerhouse in regulatory strategy, external engagement and unmatched credibility as a voice in harm reduction. Together, they enhance our ability to grow responsibly while championing adult access to modern oral nicotine alternatives. Their leadership empowers us to engage regulators, consumers, and the broader public with transparency and integrity.”

  • Haypp Survey Tracks UK Nicotine Pouch Explosion

    Haypp Survey Tracks UK Nicotine Pouch Explosion

    According to research by Haypp, the UK nicotine pouch market grew 95% between 2023 and 2024, spurred by the recent ban on disposable vapes. The perceived social acceptability of pouches compared to other products also appears to be a factor driving the market growth, as 78% of nicotine pouch users surveyed believed that nicotine pouches were socially acceptable, compared to 30% who felt vapes were socially acceptable, and 13% who believed cigarettes were socially acceptable. 

    According to survey respondents, the main advantages of pouches compared to other nicotine products are that they are discreet (68%), they feel healthier (64%), and they do not affect others (54%). 

    Based on survey responses, the typical first-time user of nicotine pouches is 33 years old. Only 3% of those surveyed report having started using nicotine pouches before the age of 18. The research also found 57% of UK nicotine pouch users say they began using pouches as a way to quit smoking and 27% to transition from other nicotine products, primarily vapes.

    “These results suggest that while the nicotine pouch market is growing rapidly, users are typically a more mature demographic that value the more discreet nature of the product,” Markus Lindblad, director of Haypp, said. “It is also notable that many people have started using pouches to transition away from vaping. This could become an important trend in the UK’s drive to go smoke-free while introducing ever stricter regulations on vaping.”

  • 87% of UK Vapers Purchase Online

    87% of UK Vapers Purchase Online

    Despite the proliferation of brick-and-mortar stores, 87% of UK vapers buy at least some of their products online, according to a survey by Haypp. Convenience was the main reason for 43% of online shoppers, while 38% pointed to better pricing.

    Another notable aspect identified by those who vape is the ability to make more informed purchasing decisions when shopping online, with product information immediately available. At brick-and-mortar stores, they said, product information is often limited to simple display advertising or the random knowledge of the staff members working at the time.

    “We expect there to be a lot of change in the industry over the next 18 months, so staying aware of new product innovations and the changing needs of vape users is incredibly important, not just for retailers but for policymakers too,” Markus Lindblad, director of Haypp, said. “Vape education is key in the UK right now.

    “We recommend retailers focus on providing comprehensive product information, educating consumers, and guiding them towards the alternative product that works for them.” 

    The 35–44 age group is the most likely to buy vapes online (93%), citing access to information as their main reason. The 55+ group has the highest proportion (34%) of users buying all their vapes online, mainly because it’s cheaper (64%).

  • Opinion: WHO Is Wrong on Flavors — It’s Time to Stand Up for Harm Reduction and Common Sense

    Opinion: WHO Is Wrong on Flavors — It’s Time to Stand Up for Harm Reduction and Common Sense

    By Markus Lindblad, Head of External Affairs at Haypp Group, parent company of Nicokick.com and Northerner.com

    At every turn, a new opinion emerges, demonizing brands for developing flavored products, to, as they say: market to those underage—often based on the notion of a “hidden agenda.” Let’s be clear: these products are created exclusively for adult consumers.

    This year, the World Health Organization (WHO) is using World No Tobacco Day 2025 to push the go-to ‘anti flavor’ agenda on nicotine products. Huge surprise to no one. The claim is that they’re part of an industry ploy to attract children. The slogan—Bright Product. Dark Intentions. Unmasking the Appeal—is both misleading and dangerous. And the question we ask ourselves: to what end?

    What those who are committed to this rhetoric seem to forget is that regulatory bodies have implemented strict guidelines to ensure the opposite of this mythical ‘hidden agenda’. As compliant and responsible brands, we walk a tight rope every day. Transparency is built into every layer of the industry—from marketing communications in earned, paid, and owned channels to prominent warning labels and full ingredient disclosure. The real unknown is the unchecked rise of illicit products flooding the market. Much like alcohol, flavors are not a tool for targeting youth. The logical step forward is to adopt consistent age verification measures—at both the federal and state levels—to prevent underage access.

    WHO’s Campaign Ignores Science and Reality

    WHO, like many other one-sided anti-tobacco organizations, paints all flavored nicotine products with the same broad brush, ignoring clear distinctions with those developed as alternatives to help adults move away from smoking. The truth is, flavored alternatives have proven to be a strong contributor to the harm reduction movement, helping millions of smokers transition away from deadly combustible tobacco.

    Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized certain nicotine products to be marketable as a risk-reduced alternative, as part of its harm-reduction strategy, finally listening to and acknowledging the science we’ve known for years. Yet the flavor-ban fight continues, contradicting this approach.

    The Real Problem: Access, Not Flavors

    It begs repeating: Flavors weren’t made for kids—they were made for adults seeking an alternative to smoking. We have seen the news cycle recently, offering reports on the marginal increase in underage usage, a problem we can all agree on. But to be clear, kids don’t get access because of peach or watermelon flavor names—they get access because standardized age-verification policies present with other categories and industries are absent, so the next best thing is to ban.

    How it should be:

    • Stronger and standardized age verification measures for all nicotine sales.
    • Ban proxy sales to minors.
    • Strict penalties for non-compliant retailers.

    Bans Hurt Public Health—and Help Illicit Markets

    Flavor bans don’t stop youth—they just drive demand underground. Meanwhile, they strip adults of their right to choose alternatives and damage legitimate businesses.

    Restricting the appeal of reduced-risk products won’t stop young people from experimenting—it will just make quitting harder for adults and push both into more dangerous behaviors.

    WHO Has It Wrong. States Must Lead.

    WHO’s 2025 campaign is focused on the wrong enemy and the rhetoric continues to erode years of research and drive fear. Instead of condemning flavors, they should be calling for smarter and tighter regulations that keep products out of underage hands—not banning tools that help adults quit smoking.

    Public health isn’t advanced by moral panic. It’s advanced by policy that works.

  • Heat Hazard: This Common Item Could Destroy Your Car

    Heat Hazard: This Common Item Could Destroy Your Car

    Expert warns drivers to avoid common mistake as the weather gets warmer

    As warmer temperatures hit the UK, experts are urging drivers not to leave their vapes in the car as the significant change in temperature can lead to the vape battery exploding, causing a fire and resulting in £1,000s worth of damage and risk to health. 

    Here, Markus Lindblad, Director from Haypp, reveals the dangers of leaving vapes in a car as the weather starts to get warmer and what to do if your vape overheats.

    • Battery explosion: All vapes require a battery to function, and these batteries are very sensitive to any extreme change in temperatures, especially heat. If you leave your vape in the car, and it’s exposed to the sun for a long period of time, then the vape battery is at risk of swelling, leaking and in some cases, can potentially cause the battery to explode. 
    • Leaking vape juice: The extreme temperature conditions in a car can cause the e-liquid inside vapes to thin, or the vape tank can expand which causes leaks. A leaking vape will not only cause a sticky mess within the car interior and be difficult to clean, but in some cases it can also cause irritation to the skin too. If the vape has leaked in the car then it’s advised not to use it and dispose of it correctly. 
    • Damaged vape: Leaving a vape exposed to heat can also damage parts of the vapes, impacting the performance of the device, reducing the battery lifespan, and ruining the coils, screen or tank. 
    • Insurance risks: If a vape causes a car fire, owners may not be able to claim on their insurance. Some policies might have clauses that exclude coverage for fires caused by vaping devices, arguing that you increased the vehicle’s fire risk, resulting in the car owner paying £1,000s worth of damage.

    What to do if you leave your vape in the car?

    If you leave your vape in a hot car for a long period of time, then it’s important to cool the vape down safely by placing it in a cool dark place. Alternatively, wipe it down with a cold damp cloth and let it air dry.  If your vape has overheated, do not, under any circumstances, place the vape in water to cool it down, as this could increase the risk of the battery exploding.  

    Where is the best place to leave a vape in a car?

    It’s always best to take a vape out of the car. If this is not possible, then it’s advised to either park in a shady spot, or place it in the glove box out of direct sunlight. Vapes should be kept at room temperature, so any fluctuations or sudden temperature changes can damage the battery, causing a fire hazard.