EU Pushes Apple to Adapt Wall Chargers

EU authorities are trying to convince tech companies to adopt a single wall charger instead of opting for a proprietary method, one that can power any and all portable devices. Their new statement wasn’t about phone cables or connector ports, like in previous years.

Members of the European Parliament called for the European Commission to enforce use of a single universal charger for all mobile devices. The idea is to reduce electronic waste and increase convenience for consumers. The EU estimated old mobile phone chargers generate around 51,000 metric tonnes of electronic waste per year.

A vote will be held on the proposal, with a date yet to be determined. Apple said the regulation would stifle innovation and be disruptive to customers, BBC News reported. Vice president of the European Commission Maroš Šefčovič said that the quest for the common charger began in 2009, when there were over 30 proprietary charging methods in use. Now, there are apparently just three.