EU Common Charger Rules Extend to Laptops, Mandating USB-C from Today
New EU regulations now require all laptops sold in the European Union to support USB-C charging, effective today. This extends the Common Charger Directive, previously applied to other electronics in December 2024, aiming to reduce e-waste and save consumers €250 million. Apple adopted USB-C for iPhones in 2023 in anticipation.
New regulations within the European Union now mandate that all laptops sold across the bloc must support USB-C charging, effective today. This expansion follows the implementation of similar rules in December 2024 for a range of electronic devices, including mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, video game consoles, and portable speakers.
Laptop manufacturers were granted an extended transition period to facilitate the necessary redesigns and adapt to the standardized charging system. The EU Common Charger Directive aims to eliminate the requirement for consumers to possess multiple, distinct chargers for various devices.
The European Parliament approved these new regulations in 2022. At the time, the European Commission estimated that this initiative would result in approximately €250 million in savings for consumers. Furthermore, the directive ensures consistent charging speeds when compatible chargers are utilized.
A primary objective of these rules is to mitigate the environmental impact associated with the manufacturing and disposal of chargers. The EU has previously stated that discarded and unused chargers contribute approximately 11,000 tonnes of electronic waste annually. In anticipation of the directive's full implementation, Apple notably transitioned its newest iPhone models from proprietary «Lightning» charger ports to universal USB-C chargers in 2023.