Electronic waste is a huge problem. There's an estimated 51,000 tonnes of it globally per year, says the European Union. But a new law could put an end to one part of it.
The E.U. has passed a law that as of 2024, all phones will have a standard USB-C charger. Having a single type of smartphone charging port will make cables interchangeable and more reusable. This standard charger would also improve the customer experience.
Maybe you've been using your phone when the battery runs low, and your friend offers you a charger, but it's the wrong kind. Many of us have had our phone die while we are out and about, far from our charger. A standard charger would solve this problem.
Not everyone is on board, though. Apple has pointed out that creating a new universal charger would still create tonnes of electronic waste because people would have to buy new universal chargers and, presumably, trash their old ones. It's estimated that nearly 1 billion consumers use an Apple proprietary lightning port. Changing that overnight would certainly create a mountain of e-waste.