Drawers full of twisted wires, chargers impossible to find among the dozens of different models, now all this will come to an end, because from today, December 28th, an eco-revolution in the field arrives of the power supply of electronic devicesbut also an easier life for those who use them and a saving for their pockets considering the expense of 250 million of euros per year.
European legislation
The new European legislation on Unique electronic charger which, standardizing the new products sold on the continent with the mandatory presence of a door USB Type-Cwill put an end to the waste of thousands of tons of electronic waste.
The devices involved
The main manufacturers have already organized themselves for this innovation which will be mandatory for a long series of devices: mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, helmets and headphones, manual video game consoles, portable speakers, digital books, mice, keyboards, microphones, systems portable navigation devices, portable consoles and ebook readers sold in the EU territory, while for new laptops the obligation will come into force on 28 April 2026.
The process of the law and the obligations of producers
The law was published in December 2022 and expected to come into force in the following 24 months, with a deadline of 28 December 2024. To make users more aware, the various companies will have to provide clear information on the charging characteristics of the devices and the contents of the package. Each brand will be able to adopt proprietary standards for fast charging without excluding the so-called “usb power delivery“, i.e. a power protocol shared.
In fact, the consumer association specifies the directive in a note Aduc, It also harmonizes fast charging requirements, which will allow users to charge at the same speed with any compatible charger. Starting today, the new packaging will have to contain information on charging characteristics and what is included in each purchase.
The cost and waste
Among the many EU regulations that often raise eyebrows, this seems to be one of those welcomed with the most interest, also due to the enormous amount of money that can be saved. Currently, Europeans spend approx 250 million of euros per year in chargers which often become superfluous or unused, ending up feeding the 11,000 tons of electronic waste, the “electronic waste“, produced annually in the EU. The introduction of the charger aims precisely at this, to put an end to the waste of money but above all to substantially reduce electronic waste.
To understand what we are talking about, always the consumer association Aduc explains how they were only sold in the EU in 2020 420 million of cell phones and other portable electronic devices. Each consumer has on average three chargers for these devices, of which it uses regularly only two. According to the European Commission, 38% of consumers say they have difficulty charging their mobile phone, usually because the charger is incompatible.
The “bonus” for consumers
With this new method it is hoped that all these problems will disappear and the consumer will also be able to save
no longer being obliged (for the functioning of their device) to use only one manufacturerbut will have a wide choice and the possibility to take advantage of more convenient products.