Smartphones and tablets are about to enter a new era of batteries that consumers can easily replace.
From February 2027, the European Union (EU) has mandated that new smartphones and tablets must be designed so users can remove and replace the batteries themselves using standard tools.
While it is only mandated in Europe, the international nature of supply chains is expected to result in this becoming the global standard.
The move was part of a string of tougher EU sustainability requirements for batteries adopted in 2023. Manufacturers were given four years notice of the changes.
The regulations go beyond phones and tablets, also applying to electric vehicles, household appliances, industrial equipment, electric bikes and scooters.
The changes were designed to reduce Europe’s dependence on imported critical minerals, improve recycling rates and ensure valuable materials such as lithium, cobalt and nickel are recovered from used batteries.
The key requirements announced by the EU were:
- Battery collection: Producers must achieve collection rates of 63 percent for portable batteries by the end of 2027, rising to 73 percent by 2030.
- Lithium recovery: Recycling operations must meet a 50 percent lithium recovery target by the end of 2027, increasing to 80 percent by 2031.
- Replaceable batteries: From 2027, consumers will generally have to be able to remove and replace portable batteries in appliances.
The ECOPV-EU group, which helps manufacturers worldwide to comply with complex requirements, has also given its customers advice on the requirements.
On its website it says that the use of adhesives that could only be removed with heat or solvents was prohibited under the new EU rules.
ECOPV-EU said modern devices were often bonded together to make them thin and waterproof. Removable batteries made this design more difficult, but not impossible.
If a special tool was required for battery replacement, the manufacturer must provide it free of charge.
Replacement batteries must be available to end users at a reasonable price for at least five years.
Used cell phones could be resold more easily and for a higher price with a new battery.
It said the EU estimated that consumers could save tens of billions of euros by 2030 due to longer usage cycles.
– Newsreel
