“Does anyone have a charger like this?”: 11 answers about the European single charger law and how it changes consumers’ lives

One charger for the cell phone, another for the headphones and another one for the tablet. Soon, this reality will change. All small and medium-sized electronic devices, such as smartphones or tablets, which are purchased in the European Union (EU) will use a USB type C input for charging. The ‘Radio Equipment Directive: common charger for electronic devices’ will save consumers money and reduce the ecological footprint, argue experts interviewed by Expresso.

What is the single charger directive?

The European Union has decided to introduce a single universal charger for electronic devices. The legislation was approved in the European Parliament (EP) in 2022, but will only come into force in October this year. From that month onwards, all cell phones, tablets, among other devices, on sale in the EU will have to be equipped with a USB type-C charging port.

The different charging times when not using the charger corresponding to the original device will also be a thing of the past. As long as the charger is compatible and supports fast charging, the speed is the same regardless of the manufacturer.

What are the reasons that led the European Union to take this decision?

The purpose of this legislation is to eliminate the link to a brand. Until now, the consumer was dependent on a single manufacturer to ensure that charging was not compromised and to reduce electronic waste.

“With this, consumers who save money and see their lives made easier win. With this reduction in the volume of electronic waste, the environment also benefits, and this is a good example of the regulatory role of the European Union. Without our action, this market regulation, this senseless waste would continue to exist”, stated Maria da Graça Carvalho, from the PSD, current Minister of Environment and Energy, when she was still an MEP, during the vote to approve this legislation.

Also during the vote, socialist deputy Maria Manuel Leitão Marques stated that “different chargers only brought us tons of electronic waste, preventing us from using our old chargers or borrowing them from a friend and filling our drawers with useless cables.” .

When does it come into force?

In October 2024, but the change is not immediate. In other words, to avoid destruction of stock and completely new equipment, at first new devices equipped with a USB-C input and old ones will be available for sale. In the case of portable computers, due to technical specificities, the deadline was extended. Only in April 2026 will they also be subject to the new rules.

What equipment is covered?

Mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones with or without a microphone, earphones, portable speakers, keyboards, mice, portable video game consoles, electronic book readers and portable navigation devices will be covered. From April 28, 2026, portable computers rechargeable via a cable, up to a maximum power of 100 watts, will also be included on the list.

Will new electronic devices be sold without a charger?

It depends on the consumer’s wishes. A brand that sells its electronic device without a charger will also be obliged to provide the option to purchase with it. Still, power cables may be offered with the equipment.

“We have added value, in the sense that, from now on, people can choose whether or not to buy the charger when they buy their cell phone”, explains Elsa Agante, leader of the energy and sustainability team at Deco Proteste and PhD in Earth Sciences and Engineering. “I’m changing the cell phone, but the charger doesn’t have to change”, because there is a universal charger that is compatible with other electronic devices.

For consumers to easily find out whether their old charger is compatible with the new device they are purchasing, brands will have to include detailed information about charging on the packaging, such as the supported power and support for fast charging.

What happens to chargers and equipment without a USB-C input?

You will be able to continue using them until your device becomes inoperable and needs to be replaced. At that point, you should recycle the old charger if it does not meet the requirements of this directive.

“The chargers always continue to work”, explains António Alves, leader of the Deco Proteste technology team and graduate in Electronic Engineering, who adds that even in the case of refurbished devices, the included charger that does not respect this directive will remain operational. “The only thing that changes, when I buy a new, non-refurbished device, is that I will have the opportunity to say whether or not I want to buy it together with the charger”, he says.

How much will users save? And what other advantages will they have?

This reduction in the unnecessary purchase of chargers will save up to 259 million euros per year from consumers’ wallets, according to an estimate by the European Commission (EC). In addition to monetary savings, there are also other advantages.

“Imagine that I go on a trip, I take the only charger with me, which is enough for all the equipment I have”, explains António Alves. It also highlights the USB Power Delivery charging protocol, which allows the same charger to be used across different brands, ensuring that fast charging will not become slower depending on the type of charger used.

In 2019, more than 80% of consumers admitted having had problems with their cell phone chargers in the last two years, according to a study carried out for the EC. On average, each European owned three chargers, two of which they used regularly, and 80% considered that unbranded chargers could be potentially dangerous.

What are the environmental benefits of the measure?

In 2018, consumers had more chargers than they needed. And this excess was responsible for 11,000 tons of electronic waste, which is equivalent to 600 kilotons of carbon dioxide emissions, according to a study carried out for the European Commission.

“This measure allows only those who need it to buy the charger, those who already have it at home do not need to buy a new charger, which means that we are not making a new purchase, which involved materials for production and the environmental impact associated with that production ”, says Elsa Agante.

This legislation will reduce more than a thousand tons of electronic waste per year. “In addition to a huge annual reduction in CO_two, this is equivalent to 10 million smartphones and 2600 tons of raw materials. And we know that today, more than ever, raw materials are critical”, Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for the Internal Market, told journalists.

Rui Berkemeier, a graduate in environmental engineering and collaborator of the environmental association Zero, also considers that this directive will bring several ecological benefits, by reducing the consumption of resources and contributing to a reduction in their management. He considers this measure to be “one of the good examples of how, with European legislation, we can somewhat change the paradigm of our ecological footprint”. There will also be an incentive for the circular economy, with the reuse of existing products. “Basically, what is the circular economy? It means using resources in the best way, in the most rational way. I would say that the circular economy is a rational economy”, he argues.

Will switching to the new charger increase recycling and waste management?

For Rui Berkemeier, this will be a residual increase. “It won’t be dramatic, although it is a situation [que vá ocorrer]. But it is a cost that is well worth the improvement,” she says.

The expert also remembers that the speed of replacement was already considerable before this measure came into force. The life cycle of these equipment is very short, “not because they stop working, they often have a short lifespan because people want more modern models with more features”.

Will this measure harm technological innovation?

No. This was one of Apple’s biggest arguments, which has been using the brand’s exclusive lightning connector since 2012, even though the most recent models of computers and tablets were already equipped with USB type C.

For the brand, this proposal would be an “unnecessary disruption” for consumers. Furthermore, Apple argued that there would not be many environmental benefits, as thousands of Apple devices would require new adapters and would become obsolete more quickly, which would contribute to an increase in the volume of electrical and electronic waste.

In 2019, Apple had around 18% of the cell phone market sold in the EU. 44% were chargeable via USB type-C and 38% had USB micro-B. “When you restrict it to USB-C, from their perspective [da Apple]they are prevented from coming with a connector that would be more technologically advanced and more interesting”, explains António Alves when arguing that the entry chosen by the EU, in addition to having the largest share in the market, is also technologically evolved. To avoid technological stagnation, There is a commitment to review this directive whenever necessary.

What was missing from the ‘Radio Equipment Directive’?

The directive, which has been under discussion for ten years, still does not include the harmonization of wireless charging between various devices. An aspect that the European Commission has committed to reviewing in the coming years.

“The directive is well achieved and will be extremely useful”, considers António Alves, who adds that as soon as harmonization of wireless charging is achieved, the legislation will be complete.

Elsa Agante can only foresee one disadvantage. “If you have an older cell phone or one without this charger, then you need to make sure you have yours, because it will be more difficult to find a compatible one, but other than that there will be far more advantages than any disadvantages”, she assures.

The Deco specialist also argues that there may be a need to raise awareness among the brands themselves so that obsolete chargers are recycled, “to ensure that they do not remain in the drawer, do not go in the general trash, but rather for recycling”. In addition to the environmental advantages, now “we can reuse things and it is not necessary to always buy everything again”.

Despite the various advantages, Rui recalls the low recycling numbers of electrical and electronic waste in Portugal. Entities managing this type of waste collected only around 16% of the electrical and electronic equipment placed on the market in the previous three years, according to the 2022 Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) report. A value well below the 65% established as a target by the EU. In reality, this rate is even lower, “because not all waste goes to operators who comply with targets and all environmental and technical standards”.

To combat low recycling numbers in the country, Rui Berkemeier believes an incentive system is essential. “It is essential that those who participate, those who return the waste, are compensated in some way”, as the economic aspect plays a crucial role in encouraging recycling.