The UK government is examining the possibility of mandating the use of only one type of charging cable in all new electronic devices. The call for evidence launched in October seeks opinions on the advantages of deploying a specific charging cable, like the widely-used USB-C cable. Last year, the European Union passed a law on a common charging cable, which mandates that companies implement it by December. The UK had previously said that it would not introduce similarly compelling regulations.
Small to medium electronic device manufacturers are required by the EU’s law to use USB-C chargers to minimise electronic waste. Apple criticised the decision but ultimately abandoned its proprietary lightning charging cables for iPhones in 2023. Current electronic gadgets, spanning from mobile phones to e-readers and headphones, operate on differing charging ports and cable specifications.
A large number of devices now use USB-C charging cables following the EU’s regulations, however, certain devices continue to require other types of cables such as micro-USB. In 2012, Apple introduced its own unique lighting connectors with the iPhone 5. USB-C ports have recently replaced it in newer versions of its products, beginning with the iPhone 15 in September.
Consumer groups have previously emphasised the problems related to the varying options for connectors in devices, resulting in numerous cables being discarded and culled due to the e-waste problem. Materials Focus, a charity striving towards the recycling of electronic equipment, encourages people to recycle old cables to meet the growing demand for their copper contents. Meanwhile, their Recycle Your Electricals campaign found that over 600 million cables lay unused or abandoned in the UK.
Nonetheless, some caution that the EU’s directions will result in a greater number of discarded lightning cables in the future. The UK government’s plans for a common charging cable have yet to be made public
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