In its new proposal, the European Commission will consider the possibility of forcing smartphone and tablet manufacturers to make their devices more durable and easier to repair. The proposal aims to reduce e-waste. According to the EC, it would reduce the carbon footprint of waste equivalent to five million cars on the streets.
The proposal focuses on batteries and spare parts. According to him, manufacturers would be forced to provide at least 15 basic components for each device, five years after its launch. These components include batteries, displays, chargers, back panels and memory/SIM card trays.
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In addition, the proposed legislation requires manufacturers to either ensure 80% battery capacity retention after XNUMX charge cycles or to supply batteries for five years. Battery life should also not be negatively affected by software updates. However, these rules would not apply to safety and folding/rolling devices.
The Environmental Coalition on Standards says that while the EC's proposal is reasonable and encouraging, it should go further in its efforts. For example, the organization believes that consumers should be entitled to both a battery replacement for five years and to have it last for at least a thousand charge cycles. It also suggests that consumers should be able to repair their devices themselves rather than having to seek professional help.
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If all goes according to plan, EK will introduce new labels similar to those already used by TVs, washing machines and other home electronics. These labels will show the durability of the device, specifically how resistant it is to water, dust and drops, and of course the battery life for the duration of its life.
