We cannot blame the European Commission for not being persistent. Twelve years after having, for the first time, mentioned the need for a universal charger for all cell phones, she decided to come back to the charge. On Thursday 23 September, the community executive was to present a draft directive which should allow Europeans to use the same charger, whatever the brand of their smartphone – Apple, Huawei, Samsung, Nokia, etc.
For this, the text, which also concerns tablets, headphones, digital cameras, speakers or even game consoles, suggests that each device be equipped with a USB-C port, which today already equips most smartphones running Android. And this without limiting the performance of the universal charger. That said, if Apple (or other manufacturers) wishes to keep its technology, it can equip its products with a second port. In order to prevent manufacturers from trying to promote their product, Brussels wants to force them to also sell their devices without chargers.
“Our project works in the interests of consumers and the environment, while preserving innovation. It is the illustration of a concrete Europe, which acts in favor of its citizens and the climate ”, welcomes Thierry Breton, Internal Market Commissioner. The future directive should in any case simplify the lives of consumers, many of whom pile up various and varied chargers and other electrical cords in their drawers. According to the Commission, a third of the chargers that accumulate on the continent are not used. This does not prevent new purchases: each year, European consumers spend some 2.4 billion euros on charging accessories for their phones and other equipment. The installation of a universal charger would save them 250 million euros per year.
Reduce electronic waste
It will also make it possible to fight against the accumulation of electronic waste, which now constitutes a new challenge for the planet. “The chargers represent 11,000 tonnes of electronic waste each year”, specifies the Commission, which expects this future legislation to reduce them by 1,000 tonnes per year. The community executive, which has made the “green deal” one of the cornerstones of its action, is also planning, as part of the circular economy plan it will present in December, for additional measures on recycling. chargers. In particular, it could force manufacturers to take them back.
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