New EU regulations mandate user-replaceable batteries in Apple products
Regulations approved by the European Council now mandate that companies, including Apple, must ensure that batteries in the iPhone and other products are replaceable by users.
European Council adopts battery regulation
The European Council has announced that it is adopting the new regulation on batteries and waste batteries. It sets stringent due diligence rules for operators who must verify the source of raw materials for batteries placed on the market.
The new regulation applies to all batteries, encompassing waste portable batteries, electric vehicle batteries, industrial batteries, and batteries used for light transport, such as electric bikes, e-mopeds, and e-scooters. It's designed to address the environmental impact of batteries at every stage of their life cycle.
These regulations are anticipated to affect companies like Apple, which market battery-powered products within the EU. However, it is expected that Apple, along with other companies, will resist the implementation of these regulations.
Currently, Apple has introduced an official Self Repair Program, enabling individuals to access the required parts and tools for repairing their devices, including battery replacements.
Fostering a Circular Economy
Central to the new rules is the promotion of a circular economy. The regulation sets out to manage batteries throughout their life cycle, establishing end-of-life requirements, including collection targets and obligations, targets for the recovery of materials, and extended producer responsibility.
Specific targets have been set for producers to collect waste portable batteries, with a goal of 63% by the end of 2027 and 73% by the end of 2030. There is also a dedicated collection objective for waste batteries for light means of transport, aiming for 51% by the end of 2028 and 61% by the end of 2031.
The regulation also sets ambitious targets for lithium recovery from waste batteries, aiming for 50% by 2027 and 80% by 2031. It further mandates minimum levels of recycled content for industrial, SLI, and EV batteries, underscoring the commitment to recycling and resource recovery.
Enhancing Consumer Rights and Information
In a significant win for consumers, the regulation stipulates that by 2027, portable batteries incorporated into appliances should be removable and replaceable by the end user. This provision gives manufacturers ample time to adapt the design of their products to meet this requirement.
The regulation also introduces labeling and information requirements, including an electronic "battery passport" and a QR code, which will be implemented by 2026 and 2027. These measures aim to provide consumers with clear and accessible information about the batteries they use.
Additionally, it's designed to reduce environmental and social impacts throughout the life cycle of the battery. It sets stringent due diligence rules for operators who must verify the source of raw materials for batteries placed on the market.
The Council's vote marks the conclusion of the adoption process for the regulation. Following this, the Council and the European Parliament will proceed to sign the regulation. Subsequently, it will be published in the EU's Official Journal and become enforceable after a period of 20 days.
Demand for batteries is expected to grow by more than ten-fold by 2030, making these regulations a crucial step toward a more sustainable future.
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Comments
Furthermore no one can stop people from just chugging the old battery in the dumpster.
Mandating some regulations for the sake of environment is fine, but this regulation is asinine. Take EV's for example, many of them use the battery "cartridge" as a structural component for the chassis, and now this is supposed to be "user replaceable"??? Or with iPhone, which is weather-sealed with gaskets which need to be replaced each time the unit is opened for service in order to maintain the IP rating, how is it supposed to retain that rating if the battery is "user replaceable"??
This is what happens when idiot politicians start meddling in industrial design matters... There is no win for consumers here, little win for the environment, and just make-work projects for themselves so they can keep receiving big fat pay checks paid for by their constituents, revolting.
There was never any reason water and dust proofing had to be done the way the industry went about it.
Nano coatings have been around for years and have been specifically designed for waterproofing.
It's also worth challenging the very notion of waterproofing on a device not designed for regular immersion use, as made clear by the warranty of the device not even guaranteeing waterproofing and falling back onto a IP rating that 'should' suffice for the rated level of protection. Splash resistance is all that is really necessary for the vast majority of users.
If a device is actually designed to spend most of its usage time in water, there is a provision for that:
The 'quality vs accessibility' argument is not really the best way to evaluate the situation. Batteries should be easily replaceable and designers should be working to achieving that goal.
In fact many parts of modern phones should be easily replaceable, even for qualified technicians. The less time needed to perform a repair and the less good components that need replacing, the better, so now the industry should be moving towards design for repair too.
Good to see something as simple as information getting some support too. Users should have simple, clear access to what type of battery they have in the phone.
In the past when I recycled an old Apple device in an Apple Store they would offer me 10% off a new device. Not sure if this is still done or done consistently in every store.
On the positive side, you'd get painless swapping of batteries. Many folks bring along spare power banks on trips. Now you'd have the option of simply attaching a 'fat' battery to your mobile.
What next Apple Silicon soc’s should be shared with all EU tech companies on demand? Because Apple is its own grandpa gate-keeper?
When I replace the battery in my own personal stuff, I don’t glue them in. The tight spacing inside Apple’s products is more than enough to keep the battery in place, and it’s definitely not worth dealing with the glue. Other components are Holiday Inn by very tiny screws, there’s no reason for the batteries to be any different.
Wonder how long it will be before the EU mandates that Apple must allow users to install Android on iPhones.
With the way I abuse my phone in daily use, I don't see the ability to change the battery as a need - I've trashed it long before battery capacity is compromised. But for the tablets and laptops, more interest. Or the consumer electronics with smaller, usually lower quality batteries, much more interest.