Shared charger for all electronic devices: EU pledges to reduce electronic waste

Ready to start negotiations for one common charger is the European Parliament, aiming at e-waste reduction and the easiest to use of the various portable devices.

Parliament’s Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection adopted its position on the amended radio equipment directive on April 20th. On Wednesday morning, the relevant announcement in the plenary confirmed the negotiating position of the MEPs. Parliament is now ready to start talks with European governments on the final form of legislation.

The new rules will result consumers no longer need a different charger and cable every time they buy a new device, but they can use a charger for all their small and medium portable electronic devices. Mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, portable video game consoles and speakers, which are rechargeable via cable, must be equipped with a USB-C port, regardless of the manufacturer.

Exceptions will only apply to devices that are too small to have such a port, such as smart watches, health monitoring devices and some sports equipment devices.

This review is part of a wider EU effort to make products more sustainableespecially electronic products in the European market, and reduce electronic waste.

Clear information on the packaging

MEPs are asking clear information and marking on new devices on charging options and whether a product includes a charger. This will contribute pavoiding confusion and facilitating consumer decisionswho often already have various devices in their possession and do not always need additional chargers.

As wireless charging is increasingly used, MEPs want the European Commission to present a strategy by the end of 2026 that will allow convergence between the new charging solutions. The aim is to avoid new market fragmentation, to continue reducing environmental waste, to ensure that charging solutions are user-friendly, and to avoid so-called “entrapment” phenomena caused by the dependence of the consumer on a single manufacturer.

Statements

The rapporteur Alex Agius Saliba (Socialists, Malta) stated: “Half a billion mobile chargers are shipped to Europe each year, generating 11,000 to 13,000 tonnes of e-waste. It is clear that everyone would benefit from having a common charger. This really broad policy change is based on the Commission proposal and calls for the interoperability of wireless charging technologies by 2026, but also for the improvement of the information provided to consumers with clear product labeling. We are also extending the implementation of the proposal by adding more products that will have to comply with the regulation, such as laptops».

Elena Papadimitriou

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