After making it mandatory for all smartphones, tablets and laptops to use USB Type-C charging ports, the European Union (EU) has now agreed on new laws and regulations aimed at making batteries more sustainable. Lasting and reusable. This new regulation will present a new set of challenges for consumer technology companies and battery manufacturers, as the new law covers the entire battery lifecycle, including 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 equipment, industrial batteries, car batteries, and batteries used in two-wheelers and electric vehicles (EVs). From early 2024, battery manufacturers in the EU will have to report the total carbon footprint of their products, from mining to the recycling process.
That data will then be used to set the battery’s maximum CO2 limit, which will come into effect as early as July 2027. They will need to use a certain percentage of recycled material, which is 16% cobalt, 85% lead, 6% lithium and 6% nickel.
The new regulations also require consumer technology brands to design their devices to make their batteries easy to replace, either by making the battery cover removable or by using screws that are easy to remove, which may mean that removable batteries will be Returned to smartphones make electronic devices more sustainable and increases their lifespan, but it also reduces profit margins for companies in the process of repairing and maintaining devices.
If passed, the new rules will ensure that batteries sold in the EU are more sustainable globally, eventually setting a standard for the rest of the world. These rules not only assess carbon footprints but companies involved in the battery manufacturing process in the EU are also required to identify, prevent and address human rights and labor issues in their supply chains.
The EU has only implemented the new law on key raw materials such as lithium, nickel, cobalt and graphite. In addition to this, the European Union has also set ambitious recycling targets, which aim to collect 45% of the recycled materials of electronic equipment by 2023 and 73% by 2030. Furthermore, in the case of electric vehicles, the goal is to collect 100% recycled materials.
The new EU battery regulations, which are awaiting final approval from Parliament and the Council, are sure to present serious challenges to consumer electronics companies such as Apple, Google, Samsung as they need to rethink their device designs, battery manufacturers such as Panasonic and Samsung SDI Suppliers will also be affected, and all companies that deal with batteries will need to start preparing for the new law, reviewing their supply chains and operations, while reaching partnerships with recyclers.
