The new MacBook Pro with the M5 chip will not include a charger in the European Union. Many assumed this was a direct result of EU regulations on electronic waste, which aim to reduce technological waste. However, a detailed look at the legislation shows that Apple’s decision is more of a commercial strategy than a legal obligation.
Although the company justifies this move for environmental reasons, EU regulations are more flexible than they seem. The law does not forbid including a power adapter in the box—it only requires manufacturers to give consumers the choice to buy the device with or without one.
What Apple Says Isn’t What the EU Law Really States
According to 9to5Mac, the EU’s Common Charger Directive has two main goals. The first is to standardize the charging port to USB-C, reducing the number of different cables. The second is to ensure that manufacturers give consumers the option to buy a device with or without a power adapter, helping to avoid redundant chargers that many people already own.
It’s important to understand what the law does not say. At no point does it ban companies from including a free charger. It simply requires that the option to buy without one be available. This means Apple could easily ask customers at checkout whether they want a charger and include it at no extra cost if they choose to.
Therefore, the decision not to include the charger in the box is a logical logistical measure to reduce packaging. However, charging extra for it is a purely commercial choice by the company. The law gives flexibility, and Apple has interpreted it in the way that benefits it financially.
