The European Parliament has overwhelmingly adopted a proposal by the Commission of the European Union (EU) that will mandate the use of USB-C charging ports in smartphones, tablets, and other consumer electronics by 2024.
In a vote earlier this month, the Parliament adopted the Commission’s recommendation to amend EU Directive 2014/53/EU (also known as the Radio Equipment Directive, or RED) to harmonize charging technologies by standardizing the use of USB-C charging ports. The Commission’s proposal would also harmonize supported speeds of charging devices and unbundle the sale of chargers from the sale of electronic devices.
The tally of the Parliament vote was 602 votes in favor of the Commission’s proposal, 13 against, and 8 abstentions. The proposal now makes its way to the EU Council for final approval, with publication in the Official Journal of the European Union to follow.
The Commission’s proposal is reportedly part of its overall effort to reduce consumer inconvenience and electronic waste created by the use of different and incompatible charging technologies for electronic devices. The Commission estimates that the average consumer owns three mobile phone chargers to ensure reliable access to compatible charging technologies, and that disposed chargers constitute 11,000 metric tons of e-waste every year.
