The implementation of the universal charger in the countries of the European Union is a reality. This European directive will allow consumers to use a single charger model, with the aim of reducing millions of tons of electronic waste and simplifying consumers’ lives.
As of April 28, 2026, laptops will also have to have a single charger. This regulation aims to mitigate the so-called ‘technological blocking’, which makes consumers dependent on a specific manufacturer when purchasing one of their devices.
The goal of the law is threefold: to ensure consumer convenience, reduce electronic waste, and avoid the fragmentation of the device charging market.
Savings and sustainability
The regulation aims to address the figure of 11,000 tons per year of electronic waste, allowing consumers to buy new devices without having to purchase an additional charger, saving citizens up to 250 million euros annually on unnecessary chargers.
USB Type-C universal chargers will be mandatory in the EU territory for most electronic devices.
Thus, all mobile phones, tablets, cameras, headphones, e-readers, keyboards, mice, consoles, speakers, and navigation systems will be marketed with a single charger. Manufacturers have had two years to adapt to this sustainable measure, approved in October 2022. In the case of laptops, they will have until April 28, 2026, to comply with the regulation.
Reduction of electronic waste and convenience for consumers
With the regulation, the aim is to reduce the extraction of raw materials, the CO2 emissions generated in the production of chargers, and the electronic waste generated each year. According to estimates by the European Commission, the previous system, with USB 2.0 Micro B, USB-C, and Lightning (exclusive to Apple), contributed to generating up to 11,000 tons per year of electronic waste.
The directive aims to avoid the fragmentation of the charging device market, ensure consumer convenience, and prevent them from becoming ‘captives’ of a specific manufacturer when buying their devices.
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