The European Parliament thus solves one of the most requested claims from users and helps eliminate the accumulation of an average of four chargers per person
Goodbye to a charger for every new appliance in European Union households. The European Parliament has finally approved that by the end of 2024 all devices sold must use the same type of charger. The European Parliament is thus putting an end to one of the claims most demanded by users and for which the European Union has worked for more than a decade, despite opposition from major tech companies.
USB Type-C will be the common charging port for all phones, tablets, digital cameras, portable game consoles, wireless headsets, headsets, speakers, e-books, keyboards, mice and portable navigation systems in the EU. In 2026, the obligation will be extended to laptops.
But the law that includes the obligation of a single charger on European territory won’t affect all tech companies equally, so its processing has been rejected by the giant Apple, which will be forced to change its iPhone’s Lightning connectors and iPad. Those not affected are Android devices that have been using this type of connection on their devices for some time now.
The aim of the measure is not only to eliminate the accumulation of an average of four chargers per person, but also to put an end to the waste they produce. And it is estimated that discarded and unused chargers represent about 11,000 tons of electronic waste that accumulates each year.
These new obligations, which will lead to more reuse of chargers, will help consumers save up to €250 million per year on the purchase of chargers. In addition, the new regulations require the devices to have explanatory labels on their charging characteristics so that consumers can easily check whether the chargers they already have are compatible and decide whether or not they want a charger when purchasing a new product. .
According to a study conducted by the European Commission in 2019, half of chargers sold with mobile phones had a USB micro-B connector, while 29% had a USB-C connector and 21% a Lightning connector, leading to to unnecessary purchases and waste that could have been avoided.
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
