August 15, 2023
The European Union has officially announced that all smartphones sold in the bloc must have replaceable batteries by 2027. The regulation which was adopted by the European Council is designed to reduce waste and make it easier for consumers to repair their devices.
The regulation applies to all smartphones, including those made by Apple, Samsung, and Google. It requires that batteries be “removable and replaceable by the end-user,” meaning that they should be easy to access and replace without any special tools or expertise. Manufacturers will have until 2027 to comply with the new regulation.
In addition to requiring replaceable batteries, the new regulation also sets targets for the collection and recycling of lithium from waste batteries. By 2027, manufacturers must collect 50 percent of lithium from waste batteries, and by 2031, that number must increase to 80 percent. Manufacturers will also be required to label batteries with their internal components, amount of recycled material, and a QR code.
The E.U.’s decision is a victory for the right-to-repair movement, which has been campaigning for years for easier access to repair parts and documentation. The regulation is also expected to have a significant impact on the global smartphone market, as it is unlikely that manufacturers will produce two different versions of their phones – one for the E.U. and one for the rest of the world.
The sources for this piece include an article in Mashable.
