The European Parliament has significantly advanced toward more easily accessible and ecologically responsible smartphone repairs.
With the latest change to existing legislation, the EU now mandates OEMs and other firms to build cell phones with readily detachable and replaceable batteries.
The measure will empower customers and decrease technological waste by encouraging self-repair and battery recycling. With 587 votes in favor, the rule was overwhelmingly approved, according to Android Central.
Repairs may be difficult and expensive in the current environment, where most cell phones are sold sealed. The new EU rule, which supports user-friendly battery designs, will enable users to no longer need specialist gear from manufacturers to access and fix simple battery-related issues.
We are proposing new rules to make phones and tablets more durable, energy efficient and easier to repair.
— European Commission (@EU_Commission) June 16, 2023
The new EU ecodesign and energy labelling proposals, phones and tablets will have to to display information on:
✅How long their batteries last
✅Energy efficiency
✅Their… pic.twitter.com/qRSbfn1c3Q
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The EU is committed to sustainable manufacturing of cell phones beyond reparability. The rule establishes challenging goals to guarantee the ethical procurement and recycling of battery materials.
The European Union pushes that batteries should include at least 16% cobalt, 85% lead, 6% lithium, and 6% nickel from recycled sources in the subsequent years, per Android Police. Companies will also be responsible for achieving particular product collection goals to guarantee a consistent flow of recyclable materials.
By 2030, the EU wants to see battery collection rates jump from the current 45% to an outstanding 73%.
The Anticipated Impact of the Policy
Beyond battery design, the recently enacted rule is anticipated to affect smartphone manufacturing procedures. Firms that use adhesives to secure different parts of their products may want to rethink their strategy.
Manufacturers may be deterred from permanently bonding display components due to the EU's emphasis on reparability and recycling. Repairs will become more affordable because the move toward more modular design and construction supports environmental objectives, according to The Times of India.
The EU's quest for user-replaceable batteries aligns with its initiatives to standardize electronic device charging connections. The European Parliament approved making USB-C the required charging connector for many portable gadgets late last year.
In general, Android phones meet this standard. Still, Apple's iPhone will need to switch from the proprietary Lightning connector to USB-C to ensure broader interoperability and minimize electrical waste.
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