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The European Commission wants to improve the longevity of the batteries of our smartphones and tablets, but also the availability of spare parts. To achieve this, and encourage manufacturers to do better, the EU would rely on strict rules and a new label.
After indirectly pushing Apple to use USB-C ports on its future iPhones, the European Commission wants to force smartphone and tablet manufacturers in the broad sense to improve the longevity of their devices. In a draft regulation recently tabledthe EU plans to force manufacturers to support repairs on their products longer and more widely.
In this case, brands would be required – in European Union member countries – to supply spare parts for at least 15 different components over a period of at least five years after the initial marketing of their devices. If this legislation comes into force, users would be guaranteed access to replacement batteries, screens, chargers, back covers, and even SIM card and memory card drawers, again for five years, reports The Verge.
Encourage repairs to reduce electronic waste produced in Europe
The draft regulation carried by the European Commission would also provide for compelling manufacturers of smartphones and tablets to improve the longevity of their batteries if they are unable to provide spare batteries for five years. These improved batteries should then meet very precise specifications and in particular be able to reach 80% of their charge capacity even after 1,000 complete charge cycles.
Two notable exceptions to these potential new rules should however be noted. Smartphones and tablets with a screenthat the user can partially or fully unwind and windwill not be affected. Same exemption for devices dedicated to use in high security environments. As The Verge points out, the idea would rather be to tackle what can in some cases appear to be planned obsolescence on the most affordable products.
Through this bill, the European Commission hopes to help reduce the amount of electronic waste produced in Europe. According to the FinancialTimes, extending the life of smartphones by five years would be equivalent in terms of carbon footprint to taking 5 million cars off the road. The impact of the new rules wanted by the EU would therefore not be negligible.
This measure is, however, part of a large-scale policy led by the EU to try to reduce e-waste. Earlier this year, a bill to adopt a universal charger for smartphones had already been tabled. The authorities then indicated that unused or discarded chargers represent nearly 11,000 metric tons of waste produced each year in Europe.
On the sidelines of its regulatory project for the extended availability of spare parts and the improvement of batteries, the European Commission would also like to launch a new label dedicated to smartphones and tablets. In particular, it would inform the consumer about the probable lifespan of a given device, and will also include information on the protection of the device against water and dust. An estimate of the product’s resistance to accidental drops could also be relevant.
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