On Thursday, the European Commission will present a legislative proposal that could make a years-long battle a reality: the introduction of a universal charger for all mobile devices. Avoiding having to throw away a charger every time a cell phone is replaced would ensure the reduction of the impact of electronic waste on the planet.
Since 2009, the European Union had managed to achieve a sort of uniformity, limiting the number and variety of charging solutions, which went from over 30 to three common standards. The advantage of establishing the USB-C port as standard now seems obvious, which by now has a diffusion rate of 80%, being present in almost all Android devices. The weight of the adjustment would therefore mostly touch Apple, whose devices are equipped with the proprietary Lightning port.
After years of studies and battles, in September it will be known definitively whether all smartphone manufacturers will have to use the same charging system, allowing you to use a single cable even with products of different brands. In fact, the data of a study commissioned by the European Union will be available, which, it now seems predictable, will confirm the benefits that the adoption of a single charger entails both for users and for the environment. At that point, a law will follow that will oblige all manufacturers to comply with the measure and guarantee users to be able to use a single charger for both smartphones and all electronic gadgets related to it. This would be an epochal turning point in the way of understanding technological products, reducing electronic waste and allowing net savings for consumers and producers.
Among the major opponents stands out, as expected, Apple, which argues, however, that the proposal would cause an increase in electronic waste, given the large number of Apple customers who would be forced to discard their charger, and complains about a limitation in innovation. and competitiveness.