The European Union (EU) has officially approved new rules that will require all smartphones sold on the block to have user- replaceable batteries by 2027 . Currently, most smartphones have batteries that are difficult or impossible for consumers to replace. Therefore, when the battery life is full, either the phone becomes idle or a paid battery replacement is required. The new EU rules will help consumers increase the lifespan of their phones by simply replacing their device's batteries.
The new rules will apply to all smartphones sold in the EU, regardless of where they were manufactured. This means that Apple, Samsung and all other manufacturers must comply with the new regulations. But Apple, along with other companies, is expected to resist the enforcement of these regulations . Because the main argument for the introduction of non-replaceable batteries into our lives was stated as "costs".
A historic decision for batteries
At the heart of the new rules is the promotion of the circular economy. The EU aims to manage batteries throughout their lifecycle by setting end-of-life requirements . Recycling plays a big part in this administration.
In the decision taken, special targets have been determined for manufacturers to collect waste batteries, 63 percent by the end of 2027 and 73 percent by the end of 2030. A specific collection target has also been set for waste batteries for light transportation vehicles: 51 percent by the end of 2028 and 61 percent by the end of 2031.
The regulation also has ambitious targets for lithium recovery from waste batteries to be 50 percent by 2027 and 80 percent by 2031. It also underlines the commitment to recycling and resource recovery by mandating minimum recycled content levels for industrial, SLI and electric vehicle batteries .
Significant gain for consumers
The regulation, which is an important gain for consumers, stipulates that the portable batteries included in the devices should be removable and replaceable by the end user by 2027 . 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 QR code, which will be implemented in 2026 and 2027. These measures aim to ensure that consumers have clear and accessible information about the batteries they use.
The vote of the Council of Europe marks the completion of the adoption process of the regulation. Following this, the Council and the European Parliament will continue to sign the regulation. The regulation will then be published in the EU Official Journal and will become applicable after a period of 20 days. Demand for batteries is expected to increase more than tenfold by 2030, making these regulations a crucial step towards a more sustainable future.