Apple’s no-charger stance is a no go: Brazil forces Apple to revisit its policy

by Alicia Brown Application Developer

Apple did not get away with their “no-chargers” policy. In October, Apple had announced that the new iPhone models will not include chargers claiming that this was part of its efforts to reduce impact and promote environmental care. Consequently, consumers will have to buy them separately. It seems this did not sit well with Brazil.

The Procon-SP Foundation is dedicated to protecting consumer rights in Brazil had demanded that Apple provide valid evidence that removing the charger reduces the mining of minerals and carbon emissions as it had called in October. However, Apple has only come up with vague statements that have not satisfied the Procon-SP Foundation hence Apple is now under investigation for violating Consumer Protection and Defense Code.

Fernando Capez, executive director of Procon-SP says, “It is inconsistent to sell the device unaccompanied by the charger, without reviewing the value of the product and without presenting a plan for collecting old devices, recycling, etc. The chargers must be made available to consumers who order them”. The organization said that Apple has failed to prove that the use of third-party chargers is not used as a way to evade the warranty by the company.

As of now, the Procon-SP Foundation’s decision is only at the state level however if Apple fails to provide them with the relevant information, it may be implemented on a federal level. It seems that Apple may have to continue providing chargers with its phones to sell its products including data cables used for iphone transfer in Brazil without a lawsuit.

It can also be said that the removal of chargers will only increase third party sales. “This is going to be a huge boon, at least in the short term, to accessory makers who are going to be selling USB-C chargers,” Avi Greengart, founder and lead analyst at consultancy Techsponential, said in October (Apple Forced to Include Charger with iPhones in Brazil as It Couldn’t ‘Demonstrate Environmental Benefits’ of Taking Them Away, n.d.).

An alternative that Apple could follow is to recycle their phones and make repairs easily accessible.

Recently, the EU agreed to establish strong “right to repair” rules that would make it harder for software updates or other factors to degrade the phone. It is an attempt to penalize companies for making unsustainable products.