From Birch to Earth: The Beauty of Biodegradability

Why Stokes Picks are designed to perform in your day — and return to nature when the day is done.

Small Pick, Smaller Footprint

Most nicotine routines come with baggage. Batteries. Pods. Plastic filters. Sticky gum foils that live in cupholders for eternity. You get the idea. Useful in the moment, sure—but they linger long after the craving passes.

A Stokes pick is different. It’s wood, flavor, function, and intention. You enjoy it, it does its job, and—when handled responsibly—it begins a quiet journey back to the earth. No beeps, no charging, no plastic drama. Just premium birchwood doing what wood has always done when it meets the elements: it breaks down.

That’s the heart of biodegradability. We built Stokes to deliver a clean, convenient experience now, and a lighter footprint later. Small pick, smaller footprint.

Built to perform. Made to break down.

Biodegradable 101 (Plain-English, No Greenwashing)

“Biodegradable” means a material is capable of being broken down by living organisms—think microbes, fungi, and other tiny heroes—into natural components like water, carbon dioxide, and biomass. It’s not magic; it’s biology. Time, moisture, and microbes do the heavy lifting.

Birchwood is a natural substrate. Place it in a typical waste stream and, over time, nature will do its thing. A few helpful truths:

• Biodegradable ≠ Compostable (necessarily). Compostable items break down in a specific, managed environment (home bin or industrial facility) on a typical timeline. Many municipalities accept only certified compostables. If you don’t have that certification, don’t claim it. We don’t.
• Conditions matter. Wood breaks down faster when it has the trio: moisture, oxygen, and microbial life. In a dry, sealed landfill cell, everything slows down (that’s true for orange peels and newspapers too).
• Biodegradable isn’t a “litter license.” Please don’t toss picks on trails, sidewalks, or beaches. We are pro-adventure, not pro-confetti.

Biodegradability is our materials philosophy, not a marketing loophole. The goal: use fewer synthetics, avoid batteries and plastics, and keep the experience premium without the leftovers.

Why Birch? The Material Story

We chose American white birch for three simple reasons: performance, purity, and planet.

Performance

Birch is strong yet smooth, which matters for something you actually hold in your mouth. It infuses consistently, doesn’t splinter easily, and feels good between the teeth. That’s not a minor detail—that’s the difference between “I’ll try one” and “this fits my life.”

Purity

Birch is clean-tasting. It lets flavor shine without adding off-notes. That’s ideal for chef-crafted blends where subtlety matters: the citrus sparkle in Lemon Ginger, the alpine cool of Vanilla Mint, the warm depth of Cinnamon Clove, the herbaceous intrigue of Absinthe.

Planet

It’s wood. When you’re done, it reenters nature’s cycle over time. We pair that with responsible sourcing—sustainably harvested birch—and minimalist formulas:

• All-Natural Flavorings — profiles inspired by global landscapes and nature’s bounty.
• Organic Monk Fruit — a clean, non-glycemic sweetness.
• Sugar-Free — no sugar spikes, no sticky residue.
• No Sucralose — no artificial aftertaste, ever.

Wood-based, ingredient-conscious, purpose-built. That’s the Stokes way.

The Life Cycle of a Stokes Pick

Harvest → Craft → Infuse → Enjoy → Return

1. Harvest – We source American white birch from responsibly managed forests.
2. Craft – Birch is shaped, smoothed, and prepared for infusion. Texture matters; so does quality control.
3. Infuse – Each pick is infused with flavor and a precise, consistent amount of nicotine.
4. Enjoy – Pocket-friendly, device-free, and fast to use—at the trailhead, on a walk, between meetings, at the airport.
5. Return – When disposed of properly, wood meets moisture and microbes and begins to break down over time.

End-of-life, responsibly:

• At home trash: The standard choice for most users.
• Home compost (where appropriate): Many people compost small wood bits. If you do, snap the pick before tossing it in to speed things up, and keep it away from kids and pets.
• Municipal green bin: Some programs accept small wood; many don’t. Check local rules.

Whatever you choose, our one request is simple: leave no trace outdoors. Pack it out.

Cleaner by Design vs. Common Alternatives

There’s no one “right” way to consume nicotine, but there are tradeoffs worth noting.

Vapes

Performance aside, vapes mean batteries, pods, and chargers. When they fail or get tossed, that’s e-waste. Disassembly is messy, and the plastics/polymers involved persist.

Pouches

Convenient, yes, but many pouches combine synthetic mesh, plastics, and multilayer foils. They can sit in landfills for a long time.

Cigarette Filters

Most are cellulose acetate—a plastic. Filters are among the most common litter items globally and are notoriously persistent in the environment.

Gum & Lozenges

Many gums use synthetic bases; lozenges add blister packs and foils. Not the worst, not the best in terms of materials.

Stokes Picks

A wood-based format with simple ingredients and no devices. It’s not complicated: wood breaks down; plastics and batteries typically don’t. That doesn’t make a Stokes pick a magic wand—but it is a better materials story for people who care about what they carry.

How to Dispose of Stokes Picks (Like a Pro)

A tiny bit of intention goes a long way:

• Carry-in, carry-out. Keep a small pocket tin in your bag or jacket. Drop used picks in the tin; empty it at home.
• Trash or home compost (where appropriate). If composting, snap the pick and mix into your “browns” for faster breakdown.
• Keep away from kids and pets. Nicotine is for adults 21+ only. Store securely, and dispose responsibly.
• Never toss outdoors. We love mountains and oceans; they are not your garbage can.

Adventurers know: leaving a place better than you found it is the real flex.

Nootropics, Neuroplasticity & Staying Sharp

Let’s talk brain. “Nootropic” is a term used for substances that support aspects of cognitive function—things like attention, memory, or learning. Within that conversation, nicotine at low doses has been studied for its acute effects on focus and attention. That doesn’t make it a vitamin; it does mean some people find it helps them lock in.

We designed Stokes for precise, consistent delivery in a fast, convenient format. No charging cables, no fiddly pods—just a pocket-ready pick when you want it. For many users, the ritual is part of the effect: you reach for a flavor aligned with your moment, you breathe, you focus, you move on.

Important context: nicotine is addictive. If you don’t already use nicotine, don’t start. If you do, choose a format that fits your values and your life, and use it responsibly.

Botanicals Selected for Wellness

We’re a chef-driven brand with a biohacker’s curiosity. Our flavors aren’t just tastes; they’re stories with botanical logic behind them:

• Lemon – associated with vitamin C and brightness; a sensory “reset.”
• Absinthe– known for its warm zing and a long history in digestive traditions.
• Cinnamon Clove – rich, aromatic, and famously bold.
• Vanilla Mint – cool, clearing, and breath-freshening.

We’re careful with claims. These ingredients have properties discussed in the literature, but Stokes is not a medical product. Flavor, ritual, and convenience come first; the rest is a thoughtful bonus.

Flavor, Meet Landscape

Each Stokes flavor has a place—literally. Our design language pairs taste with terrain:

• Lemon Ginger— a bright yellow dawn over rugged granite. Synergy. Clarity. Radiance.
• Vanilla Mint— alpine blue at twilight. Serenity. Soothe. Allure.
• Cinnamon Clove— warm red desert light. Alertness. Boldness. Confidence.
• Absinthe— deep green highlands after rain. Vitality. Vigor. Mystique.

Your choice of flavor becomes a choice of mood. Pick the terrain you want to move through today.

Our Six Core Features (Why Users Stay)

• All-Natural Flavors, Globally Inspired — Chef-curated profiles rooted in real places: citrus groves, alpine forests, spice markets, herb gardens.
• Organic Monk Fruit — Naturally sweet, clean finish.
• Sugar-Free, No Sucralose — Taste that respects your routine.
• Biodegradable Birchwood — Durable in use, gentle in the end.
• Nootropic-Minded Format — Designed for clarity and a precise, consistent dose.
• Botanical Intent — A flavor library built around ingredients prized for antioxidant, digestive, and calming traditions.

That’s our definition of “premium”: performance without the plastic.

Frequently Asked (Because You’re Thorough)

Are Stokes Picks compostable?

They’re made of biodegradable wood. Some home composters add small wood bits to their bins; others don’t. Many municipal compost programs accept only certified compostables. Check your local rules.

How fast do they break down?

It depends. In a moist, microbe-rich environment, wood breaks down faster; in a dry or sealed environment, it breaks down more slowly. Either way, the endpoint is the same: nature reclaims wood. Please dispose of responsibly.

Can I drop a used pick on a trail since it’s “natural”?

Nope. Leave no trace. Always pack it out.

What’s actually in a Stokes pick?

Birchwood, flavor infusions, nicotine, and organic monk fruit for a clean sweetness. Sugar-free. No sucralose. No gimmicks.

Who are Stokes' picks for?

Adults 21+ who want a clean, portable format with premium taste and a smaller footprint than devices or plastic-heavy options.

Choose Cleaner Performance

If you already use nicotine, you deserve a format that respects your routine and your environment. Stokes is wood-based, thoughtfully flavored, and designed for life in motion.

Find your rhythm, stock up smarter, and unlock Free Shipping at $49+.

Four flavors. One decision: yes to cleaner performance.

The Fine Print (Because We’re Responsible)

• For adults 21+ only. Keep out of reach of children and pets.
• Nicotine is an addictive chemical. Do not use if pregnant or nursing, or if you have certain medical conditions. Consult a healthcare professional with any questions.
• Ingredient properties discussed above are general; effects vary by person. Stokes does not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.

From birch to earth. From flavor to focus. From habit to something a little wiser. That’s the beauty of biodegradability—and the promise of Stokes.