The news is not a surprise: first mentioned in 2009, the standardization of charging connectors will come into force at the end of 2024 in the European Union. If this represents a simplification of daily life for the user, it is also a big step forward for ecology.
Easier on a daily basis for users and more environmentally friendly
A publication in Official newspaper dated this Thursday, December 28, 2023 indicates that smartphone manufacturers will have to use USB Type-C for charging devices sold in the European Union. This regulation will come into force on December 28, 2024.
If this standardization ordered by the EU aims to simplify the daily lives of millions of users, it also has an important ecological dimension: one of its objectives is none other than to avoid thousands of tons of electronic waste.
According to the European Commission, four out of ten smartphone users have already experienced a battery outage on a smartphone at least once, without being able to recharge it. The reason is the compatibility problems inherent to the different refill formats. Some manufacturers have taken the lead and already offer devices that comply with these regulations. Apple is a good example with the iPhone 15, the first iOS device in the range to integrate a USB-C port rather than the Lightning connector, the Apple brand’s proprietary format.
This standardization imposed on manufacturers is currently limited to mobile phones. On the other hand, universal power supply for laptops will only become mandatory from April 26, 2026.