The impending Radio Equipment Directive in the EU is expected to make eight million used smartphones obsolete by mandating USB-C compatibility, aiming to reduce e-waste.
The regulation will lead to a significant impact on both the primary and secondary smartphone markets, resulting in over 60% of secondhand devices being incompatible with USB-C.
The USB-C mandate will strain the evolving circular industry, potentially causing products to funnel into unregulated markets and encouraging imports that circumvent EU customs.
Despite sustainability commitments, Europe's dependence on imported devices exposes non-circular behaviors among consumers, highlighting the challenges the industry faces.
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