The European Union has overwhelmingly voted in favor of requiring all gadgets to use removable batteries that can be easily replaced by users.
This piece of legislation, the proposal of which was first presented in 2020, was finally approved earlier this month by the European Parliament with 587 votes in favor and only nine against and 20 abstentions.
Per the legislative body’s press release, the legislation lays out several rules and key measures for the design and production of batteries that are sold in the EU. With the aim of protecting the environment and strengthening the EU recycling industry, these measures include increasing the minimum levels of materials recovered from waste batteries and a required carbon footprint declaration for bigger batteries used in electric vehicles and transport.
Another key measure by the regulation is to improve the ease of use for consumers. This means designing portable batteries that are easy to remove and replace.
One major company that’s heavily affected by this policy is Apple, whose iPhones have always had a unibody construction and generally require an authorized service provider to perform battery replacements. The company does offer self-repair kits, but it’s not exactly for the average user.
The EU also previously enforced regulations that Apple had no choice but to comply, such as allowing app sideloading and the use of a USB-C port.
Manufacturers of smartphones and other portable gadgets have three and a half years to adjust, as the law will take effect in early 2027.