Saved expenses, less waste and better respect for consumer rights thanks to a universal charger? This Tuesday, June 7, an agreement was reached between the European Parliament and the Council (which represents the 27 member countries of the EU) to impose a single wired charger on all “small and medium-sized” electronic devices, on the large dam from Apple who disputes this decision.
Towards a single universal charger?
In two and a half years, the European Union will require a USB-C port charger for cameras, cell phones, tablets, game consoles, headphones, e-readers and other electronic products “most commonly used”. Laptops will also have to comply with this rule by 2026.
Published yesterday, the European Parliament justified the decision in a statement: “Under the new rules, consumers will no longer need a different charging device and cable each time they buy a new device. , and will be able to use a single charger for all their small and medium-sized portable electronic devices”.
Each electronic product must be equipped, by the fall of 2024, “with a USB Type-C port, regardless of their manufacturer”, it is specified in the press release. Parliament also indicated that “laptops will also have to adapt to the requirements within 40 months of the entry into force of the text”, i.e. by 2026. The political agreement reached on Tuesday still has to be formally approved in autumn by the European Parliament and the Council.
Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for the Internal Market, shared his enthusiasm on Twitter: “We have an agreement on the common charger! More savings for European consumers, and less waste for the planet. Smartphones, tablets and cameras will now have USB-C. Fast charging technology will be harmonised, sales of chargers will be unbundled. European Union interest has prevailed,” he exclaimed.
We have a deal on the #CommonCharger!
More savings for EU consumers & less waste for the planet:
mobile phones, tablets, cameras… will have #USBtypeC
harmonised fast-charging technology
unbundling of sale of chargers
The EU general interest has prevailed! pic.twitter.com/i2UAE7kzyI
— Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) June 7, 2022
The slow race for the universal charger in the face of unhappy Apple
The idea of setting up a universal charger dates back to 2009. On the other hand, given the reluctance of the technology industry on the possible economic losses, it had been put in stand-by. However, over the years, from about thirty chargers in 2009, the number has increased to three models: the micro USB connector, the USB-C, and the Lightning d’Apple.
The giant Apple has fiercely opposed the European Union’s decisions, arguing that it would “stifle innovation” and cut off the EU – subject to a choice of “outdated” standards – from the rest of the world.
By disqualifying some of the chargers and smartphones in circulation, Brussels “will impose significant losses on manufacturers, reduce consumer choice and generate additional electronic waste”, Apple argued on Tuesday. “Let’s say it clearly: if Apple wants to market its products (in Europe), we will have to respect our rules (…) We have to think about the environment”, retorted Thierry Breton.
More savings and less waste?
According to the agreement between EU member states and the Council, European consumers are spending almost 2.4 billion euros and this would save millions. “These new obligations will lead to greater re-use of chargers and will help consumers save up to €250 million per year on unnecessary purchases of chargers,” says the European text.
The “Environmental Action Programme”, guiding the EU’s environmental action for the period 2021-2030, advocates the “transformation of the EU into a low-carbon economy and measured in its use of resources” , with better waste treatment, a fight against waste, and for recycling… Electronic waste generated by discarded and unused chargers “represents approximately 11,000 tonnes of electronic waste per year”, underlines the text. Les Échos reports that this could lead to a reduction of almost “1000 tons of waste”.