The European Union (EU) has now agreed on new laws and regulations aimed at making batteries more sustainable and reusable, which could force smartphone makers to bring back removable batteries, the media reported.
This step comes after USB Type-C charging ports became mandatory for all smartphones, tablets and laptops.
Because the new laws cover the entire battery lifecycle, the new regulation will present a number of new challenges for consumer tech companies and battery manufacturers, according to SamMobile.
The entire life cycle of a battery includes material extraction, industrial production and disposal.
The new EU law will apply to all types of batteries sold in the EU, including those used in electronic devices, industrial batteries, car batteries and batteries used in two-wheelers and electric vehicles (EVs), according to the report.
In addition, battery manufacturers in the EU will have to report the entire carbon footprint of their products from extraction to recycling from the beginning of 2024.
This data will then be used to set a maximum carbon limit for batteries, which will come into effect as early as July 2027.
They must use a certain percentage of recycled materials, such as 16 percent cobalt, 85 percent lead, 6 percent lithium and 6 percent nickel, the report added.
If approved, the new rules will ensure batteries sold in the EU region are more environmentally friendly, ultimately setting a precedent for the rest of the world.
