In future, a single universal charger will fit all electronic devices, the European Parliament reminded consumers on December 24.
It was decided two years ago that every mobile phone, tablet, and digital camera sold in the European Union from the end of 2024 will have to have a USB Type-C port. Laptops will follow in the fall of 2026. The new law was approved in autumn 2022 with 602 votes for, 13 against, and eight abstentions.
As a holiday surprise, in comes the new rules on electronic products sold in the EU that hit on December 28: all new electronic devices being sold in the EU must contain a USB Type-C charging port, no matter the manufacturer.
The European Parliament added in a LinkedIn post why this change is positive. “For the sake of your wallet and the environment.”
Cutting Down Waste and Providing Incentives for Sustainability
Among the major goals of the legislation is reducing electronic waste, as well as allowing consumers to be more environmentally friendly when buying devices. The law takes away the requirement for various chargers, even in situations where consumers replace their portable electronic devices.
The European Parliament estimates that not needing a different charger for each device could save consumers as much as €250 million every year. This move is also likely to reduce electronic waste in Europe by a considerable amount—currently, chargers that are discarded and replaced create about 11,000 tons of waste every year.