EU passes law against firmly bonded batteries

The EU Parliament has voted by an overwhelming majority of 587 to 9 to revise existing regulations on batteries and spent batteries. This new law takes into account current technological developments and future challenges in the sector and will cover the entire life cycle of batteries, says the EU Parliament.

The end of firmly bonded batteries

A key point of the new regulations is the ban on permanently bonded rechargeable batteries. In the future, portable batteries must be designed so that they can be easily removed and replaced by consumers. A battery is considered “easy to remove” if it can be removed without special tools or the use of heat energy or solvents. This means the end of batteries that are firmly stuck together and cannot be easily removed, such as those currently used by many smartphone and notebook manufacturers.

Impact on smartphone design

This directive is expected to change the design of smartphones sold in the EU. However, the regulation will not take effect until three and a half years after it is announced, in early 2027. Manufacturers will have to offer replacement batteries for their devices for up to five years.

New targets for collecting old batteries

The EU has also set stricter targets for the collection of old batteries and accumulators in the regulation. For example, a collection target of 45 percent by 2023, 60 percent by 2027 and 73 percent by 2030 applies to portable batteries, while a target of 51 percent by 2028 and 61 percent by 2031 applies to batteries from “light transport vehicles” such as electric scooters.

Targets for recovery of installed materials

The EU has also set targets for the recovery of embodied materials: Lithium to be 50 percent recovered by 2027 and 80 percent by 2031. For cobalt, copper, lead and nickel, the EU sets a target of 90 percent by 2027 and 95 percent by 2031.

Conclusion

By passing this law, the EU is sending a strong signal for consumer protection and environmental protection. The ban on permanently bonded batteries and the strict collection and recovery targets will make the life cycle of batteries more sustainable. This is an important step towards a more environmentally friendly and consumer-friendly electronics industry.