Last Thursday, the European Union announced plans to require the smartphone industry to adopt a standardized charging cord for mobile devices, Kelvin Chan wrote in the Ledger Enquirer.

The European Commission, the union's executive arm, has proposed legislation that would mandate USB-C charging cables, a technology that many device makers have already adopted.

The main objector was Apple, which said it was concerned that the new rules would limit innovation, and that this would ultimately harm consumers.

iPhones come with the company's own Lightning charging port, although the latest models come with cables that can be plugged into a USB-C socket.

This action by the European Union is sure to be welcomed by the millions of people who struggle in search of the right cable, but the European Union also wants to reduce the 11,000 tons of e-waste that Europeans throw away every year.

The Commission said the typical EU resident owns at least 3 chargers and uses two chargers regularly, but 38% of people reported being unable to charge their phones at least once because they could not find a compatible charger.

It is reported that about 420 million mobile phones or portable electronic devices were sold in the European Union last year 2020.

The Commission is also calling for the standardization of fast charging technology and giving consumers the right to choose whether they want to buy new devices with or without a charger, which the European Union estimates will save consumers 250 million euros ($293 million) a year.

European Commission calls for standardization of fast charging technology and giving consumers the right to choose whether they want to buy new devices with or without a charger (pixels)

waste reduction

"Chargers power all our essential electronic devices. With more and more devices, more and more non-interchangeable or unnecessary chargers are being sold... We are putting an end to that," said Thierry Breton, EU Internal Market Commissioner.

"With our proposal, European consumers will be able to use a single charger for all their portable electronic devices, which is an important step to increase convenience and reduce waste."

Companies will have two years to adapt to the new rules introduced by the European Commission once they come into force.

The rules will only apply to electronic devices sold in 30 countries in the European single market, but - like the EU's strict privacy regulations - they could eventually become a de facto standard for the rest of the world.

Apple said it shared the European Commission's commitment to protecting the environment but questioned whether the proposals would help consumers.

"We remain concerned that strict regulation of just one type of connector is stifling rather than encouraging innovation, which in turn will harm consumers in Europe and around the world," the company said in a statement.

Breton, for his part, denied that the new rules would slow innovation.

He said if Apple wanted to continue to have its own plug, it would have the ability to do so.

Adding - at a press conference in Brussels - that he is not against innovation, the goal is to "make the lives of our citizens easier".