SIRRMIET a republié ceci
🌍 As the European Union prepares to implement the Radio Equipment Directive on December 28th, a critical debate is emerging about its impact on the secondary device market. 📱 The directive, which requires USB-C charging ports for all mobile devices, is a significant step towards reducing electronic waste by standardizing charging solutions. However, a coalition of over 50 organizations from the European circular economy sector, including industry leaders like GSMA, Back Market, refurbed, and Ingram Micro Lifecycle, Dipli and SIRRMIET has raised serious concerns about unintended consequences. ⚠️ On June 19th, the coalition submitted an urgent letter to the EU, highlighting a critical issue: the directive's blanket application to both new and used devices. Without distinguishing between these categories, the directive could unintentionally harm sustainability efforts. According to estimates, more than 60% of used devices in Europe will still rely on older charging standards by the implementation date. CCS Insight even predicts that by 2025, the supply of used smartphones in Europe could drop by 40%—equivalent to 8 million devices and € 2 billion in sales. 😳 The directive’s impact could extend beyond consumer choice, affecting the viability of the circular economy. With Europe being a major importer of used smartphones, particularly from the US, Japan, and Singapore, the global supply chain could be disrupted. This makes local European trade-in schemes even more crucial. We’re already seeing companies like Freenet in Germany ramp up efforts, and we believe others will soon follow. Is this directive the catalyst for change? 🌱 Thank you Simon Bryant for preparing and sharing. #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #EWaste #MobileDevices #USBC #EURegulation #TechForGood #SecondaryMarket #TradeIn