Back in time when mobile phone batteries were removable! The European Union will make it mandatory to use replaceable batteries in electronic devices!
At last week's plenary session of the European Parliament, members of the European Parliament reportedly agreed on a draft law on the life cycle of battery products. The draft stipulates that it is forbidden to permanently install batteries in electrical appliances. According to the act, replaceability is an important factor in making appliances have a longer lifespan, thus advocating for more sustainability. According to a parliamentary press release, if the law is adopted by EU governments, batteries will be banned from being permanently tied to mobile phones from 2024 onwards.
In addition to the battery in smartphones that will be affected, other devices will also be affected by the proposal. The new bill mentions light vehicles, which means that if the batteries and batteries in devices such as e-bikes fail, consumers will be able to replace the batteries themselves or through a service provider.
In addition to requiring replaceable batteries, the EU parliament also requires manufacturers to commit to human rights and due diligence. The raw materials needed for batteries are often available in a few countries and in limited quantities. Therefore, the focus should be more on recycling raw materials from e-waste. In particular, cobalt, lead, lithium and nickel will be recycled more in the future, and to achieve this goal, the EU also plans to set stricter targets for the collection of used batteries.
