In addition, 40 months after the entry into force of the directive, laptops will also have to comply with the new rules. The only thing left is for the change to be approved by the European Parliament and the Council, but so far this is nothing more than a formality. The reason for introducing a single charging standard is to make electronic devices more sustainable, to reduce the amount of e-waste, as well as to make life easier for consumers by being able to use one charger for all their devices.
“Today, a shared charger has become a reality in Europe! European consumers have long been frustrated by the multiple chargers that pile up with each new device. They will now be able to use one charger for all their portable electronics. We have also added provisions on wireless charging as a next development in charging technology, as well as on improved information and labels for consumers. ” – said Alex Agius Saliba (Member of the European Parliament).
According to estimates, consumers could save up to 250 million euros a year because they will not have to spend money buying new chargers. At the same time, unused chargers are estimated to contribute about 11,000 tons of e-waste per year.
Apparently, the new regulations will affect Apple the most, which has been pushing the Lightning charging port for years. Theoretically, Apple could circumvent these rules by completely removing the charging port, but rumors are circulating that Apple has been testing USB-C on its iPhones for some time. After all, USB-C can already be found on Mac and iPad devices.
Writes: Marijan Zivkovic
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