Every year, millions of used nicotine pouches end up in the Danish nature, posing a potential risk to both the environment and wildlife. A new report from DTU Sustain, commissioned by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (Miljøstyrelsen), reveals that around 5.3 million nicotine pouches are left in nature and public spaces annually, still containing up to 63 percent of their original nicotine content. These discarded nicotine pouches can be dangerous for animals, who may mistake them for food. “The discarding of used pouches in nature poses a risk for animals mistaking the pouches for something edible,” stated the Danish Environmental Protection Agency on their website.
There is also concern that nicotine may have harmful effects on the environment, although further studies are needed to determine the extent of these effects. The seriousness of the situation was highlighted during the Danish Society for Nature Conservation’s annual waste collection in April, where at least 115,000 snus and nicotine pouches were found. Charlotte Juul, project manager at the Danish Society for Nature Conservation (DN), expressed hope that nicotine pouches will soon be covered by the extended producer responsibility, which already applies to cigarettes. This principle imposes responsibility on producers to clean up after their products when they end up in nature.
Several cases have been reported in the media of dogs falling ill after ingesting nicotine pouches. Hanne Knude Palshof, chairperson of the Danish Veterinary Association (Den Danske Dyrlægeforening), advises dog owners to be extra vigilant of nicotine pouches when out walking with their dogs. “As the pouches have become more widespread and are more often discarded in nature, there is naturally an increasing number of dogs being poisoned,” she says. She recommends contacting a veterinarian immediately if you suspect your dog has ingested a nicotine product.