Apple's Environmental Chief Lisa Jackson Retiring After 13 Years

[Big_D]

Thanks for your insight.
I must still respectfully suggest that it's tricky when you are "into tech" to understand normal folks, those ones who might even not know who Tim Cook is, or when Apple holds a keynote to watch.
They are not interested in Tech, and have other things to focus their life on, the phone is just something they use, and go to the store when a their old one breaks.

In this vein, I might politely suggest that following what you say:


"I've bought 20 iPads, a MacBook Pro, 20 iPhones, a shaver, 3 torches, 12 Samsung Galaxy A phones, 10 Samsung Galaxy Tabs, 20 Apple Pencils USB-Cs, MagSafe 3-way charger, Ugreen Magsafe charger, Apple MagSafe charger, a PC cleaner (blower) and various other pieces of equipment for work and private in the last 12 month"


Suggests very strongly that you are very very unusual in your purchasing habits and are a follower of technology and hence will have a very different viewpoint on a charger to make this thing you just bought actually work than a normal person who just buys a phone and wants it to work.

It's pretty clear Apple did this for Cost reasons to save them money, Box size/shipping reasons, to save them money, and then spin it as "caring for the planet" to self promote how caring they are as a company.
So for Apple it's a Win, Win, Win, so easy to understand their real corporate reasons.

But let's not please pretend the only reason was because they are such wondering and caring people.

I'm an IT Manager, so I buy a lot of tech kit, I could have included all the Windows PCs, servers and switches as well, but I didn't want to belabour the point.

But my family is not very technical, heck they don't really care about technology at all. My youngest daughter is still rocking my old Samsung Galaxy S20+, her boyfriend a Redmi 10 Pro, my eldest daughter is using my old iPhone 13 Pro and her husband some no-name Android from 2021/2022.

My in-laws all have 4-7 year old phones, almost all Android.

But, as I stated above, it is a legal requirement that the devices don't come with a charger and this change was in the national news (papers, TV, magazines etc.) for 2-3 years before it came into force, so everybody was "prepared" for it, before the change came into effect.

Again, here it isn't that they are wonderful and caring, it is that they are following the letter of the law, just like every other manufacturer. In fact, as of 2026 it is no longer necessary for laptops to come with a charger in the EU, I think the first models are appearing with no charger in the box.

 

[Piggie]

I'm an IT Manager, so I buy a lot of tech kit, I could have included all the Windows PCs, servers and switches as well, but I didn't want to belabour the point.

But my family is not very technical, heck they don't really care about technology at all. My youngest daughter is still rocking my old Samsung Galaxy S20+, her boyfriend a Redmi 10 Pro, my eldest daughter is using my old iPhone 13 Pro and her husband some no-name Android from 2021/2022.

My in-laws all have 4-7 year old phones, almost all Android.

But, as I stated above, it is a legal requirement that the devices don't come with a charger and this change was in the national news (papers, TV, magazines etc.) for 2-3 years before it came into force, so everybody was "prepared" for it, before the change came into effect.

Again, here it isn't that they are wonderful and caring, it is that they are following the letter of the law, just like every other manufacturer. In fact, as of 2026 it is no longer necessary for laptops to come with a charger in the EU, I think the first models are appearing with no charger in the box.

I'm adding this is after some searching and after I typed the text below:
You seem to be incorrect there.
There appears to be no law that says devices must not come with a charger.


You said:
But, as I stated above, it is a legal requirement that the devices don't come with a charger and this change was in the national news (papers, TV, magazines etc.) for 2-3 years before it came into force, so everybody was "prepared" for it, before the change came into effect.


This is not true.



Just to note, I have multiple USB chargers myself at home, so I'm covered, but I did have to buy them over the years to get into this position, and I do still use chargers that come with devices as extras for perhaps when I'm at work or going somewhere to take with me.

It's tricky for sure.
I will admit I'd be annoyed to spend $2000+ on a laptop and then have to pay more just to charge the dam thing in any reasonable way.

"Used phone for sale, does not come with a charger" still feels less than ideal.

 

[Big_D]

You said:
But, as I stated above, it is a legal requirement that the devices don't come with a charger and this change was in the national news (papers, TV, magazines etc.) for 2-3 years before it came into force, so everybody was "prepared" for it, before the change came into effect.


This is not true.

I stand corrected, I thought that they shouldn’t come with a charger, but manufacturers and consumers are encouraged, not forced, not to have a new charger with every new device. The EU believes this will spare 11,000 tonnes of e-waste every year. That said, for the last couple of years, I have not seen a single device in those categories come with a dedicated charger.

EU common charger rules: Power all your devices with a single charger

The EU has implemented a universal charger for electronic devices to reduce waste. All new devices sold in the EU must now support USB-C charging.

commission.europa.eu

The rule for laptops comes into place in April this year, although, I don’t think I have had a single laptop come over my desk in the last 4 years that doesn’t support USB-C docking - although the Dell Pro Max laptops needed a heavy charger, the standard 90W chargers don’t work, the TB4 docks have a 200W charger.

It's tricky for sure.
I will admit I'd be annoyed to spend $2000+ on a laptop and then have to pay more just to charge the dam thing in any reasonable way.

Again, I think it depends on the personal circumstances. I haven’t used the Apple Charger for my Air at work, the same for my Pro’s charger at home, both are still wrapped and I only used the MagSafe cable once, out of curiosity. I use a TB4 dock at home and work, so those big Klötze are just taking up space. The battery in the Air holds at least a full working day, if not 2 and, when I am travelling for work, there will be a docking station I can use at my destination, if I need to charge or to use external monitors and keyboards… So I’d be happy to not get a charger with my next laptop.

I think the best way would be for Apple to offer a charger free of charge or discounted with purchase (and/or reduce the price by a few dollars if the charger isn’t in the box with the MacBook.

"Used phone for sale, does not come with a charger" still feels less than ideal.

As I said in my previous posts, as 99% of phones for the last half decade have not included a charger here, you won’t see “does not comes with a charger,” people expect that it won’t come with a charger.

 

[Piggie]

It would be very interesting (impossible, but interesting) if you could survey everyone on the planet, and ask if you are using the charger that came with your device or did you buy a separate charger.

My guess is we're in a transition phase, probably I'd guess most are still using the charger that came with the device.
Remembering most people are using android models, and again, most not the high end models either.

I'm sure as time moves forward and younger people who are more into tech are used to everything using the same charger this will change.

It's just a bit of a pain point right now.

I can assure you the elderly ladies I live close to, and only barely use their smartphones, would be totally baffled by not having the means to charge it, when they get back home and open the box, and someone else has to explain they need to buy a charger.

 

[Fraserpatty]

It would be very interesting (impossible, but interesting) if you could survey everyone on the planet, and ask if you are using the charger that came with your device or did you buy a separate charger.

My guess is we're in a transition phase, probably I'd guess most are still using the charger that came with the device.
Remembering most people are using android models, and again, most not the high end models either.

I'm sure as time moves forward and younger people who are more into tech are used to everything using the same charger this will change.

It's just a bit of a pain point right now.

I can assure you the elderly ladies I live close to, and only barely use their smartphones, would be totally baffled by not having the means to charge it, when they get back home and open the box, and someone else has to explain they need to buy a charger.

Ha! I am an elderly lady and I assure you I know that a charger is necessary for the new devices. I ordered a faster one from Amazon.

 

[Piggie]

Ha! I am an elderly lady and I assure you I know that a charger is necessary for the new devices. I ordered a faster one from Amazon.

I'm sure you did and great that you have an interest in tech.
My parents know amazing amounts about birds in the garden, flowers and plants, all things I knew virtually nothing about nor have much interest in, other than the very basics.
I was much more interested in tech, and gadgets.
they could never use a Video recorder, a TV remote was only just usable and as for things like Smartphones/Computers etc, not a hope, and they had no interest as for them that was not an important aspect of their world.

We are all different thankfully. Some fuss over the tech behind their TV, others just have a TV to watch the program they want and will buy one from the supermarket if they need a new one.

IMHO it was and ism very harsh and abrupt to sell a high end electrical rechargeable product that you cannot use without buying an extra item to make it work.

To be honest, from a "Human" point of view I'd be happier (and I think many would) for it to go through a transition period of a few years.

1: Apple sells iPhones with a charger
2: Apple changes to sell iPhones, with a free optional charger if you feel you need one.
3: Apple stops suppling chargers for free and you need to buy one.

That would have been a more consumer friendly and "human/caring" way to treat normal customers.
Than jumping directly from 1 to 3.

And to be honest, would have got almost no criticism in the media for handling it this way instead

 

[Mega ST]

Step one should be to introduce a standard system of connectors for everything. Everybody could use his chargers for everything else. Apple is famous for having created artificial walled gardens concerning cables and connectors over time. Including magsafe variants.
If you buy one single (owned) iphone after some years, not getting those contract phones over and over again every two years or similar, a charger adds usability after the first hours. You just need one and I have just one for the iphone and one bigger charger for each of my two Powerbooks. All of them are in use.

 

[I7guy]

Ha! I am an elderly lady and I assure you I know that a charger is necessary for the new devices. I ordered a faster one from Amazon.

I just bought a high end iPad and it came with a charger I didn’t need. It’s true to charge a device today one needs a charger. But my old 5 watt charger will still an iPhone 17. There has to be billions of chargers in the hands of customers who buy phones and other electronic devices. IMO the percentage of those who don’t need a charger outpaces those who do.

 

[I7guy]

Step one should be to introduce a standard system of connectors for everything.

Standards in connectors, charging cubes etc is partly the enemy of innovation.

Everybody could use his chargers for everything else. Apple is famous for having created artificial walled gardens concerning cables and connectors over time. Including magsafe variants.

Doesn’t their latest phones support common standards?

If you buy one single (owned) iphone after some years, not getting those contract phones over and over again every two years or similar, a charger adds usability after the first hours. You just need one and I have just one for the iphone and one bigger charger for each of my two Powerbooks. All of them are in use.

I must have 20 charging bricks in the house plus the associated cables. After all we want fast charging in every room.

 

[Piggie]

I must have 20 charging bricks in the house plus the associated cables. After all we want fast charging in every room.

But do we?
Unless I'm in a hurry, my phone is never fast charged and always on a slow-ish charger.

Fast charging reduces the lifespan of your battery, so unless you really need to fast charge it.... Why?

We individuals of course love fast charging.
Of course we do, so it's a great selling point for companies.
But it does nothing to help the battery and phone last for their longest.

That's not something that upsets Apple or anyone else.
They can advertise fast charging that customers love and want.
Plus (within reason as as long as it's not obvious) when a battery wears out there's a good chance they will get more money from you.
So it's a Win Win for them 🙂
As customers are happy (As long as fast charging does not reduce the lifespan in a very noticeable amount)

Their problem is, if Apple or anyone openly admits fast charging is bad, then it hurts their sales pitch of course.

Thankfully batteries and getting better and perhaps before not too many more years have past (probably another 5 - 10 years) battery tech will get to the point it no longer matters

 

[zogzog]

Yes, and that's perfectly fine.
I also have my own separate chargers I purchased.

The point I was making was that, when it comes time to pass on your old phone, either to a friend or sell it onto someone else, you'd normally pass on the phone complete with it's charger so the next person will be able to use and charge it, without expecting them to already own or have to buy another charger.

I'd say the majority of phones go to another second owner, perhaps even a third (a child perhaps) so keeping the original charger that (should) come with the phone, moves down the line of future owners of the phone.

"Techy" people often buy some fancy 3rd party charger, but I'd suggest most everyday normal people who are not into tech or who follow tech trends simply use the charger that came with the phone when they bought it, and, as I say, pass the charger on to someone else along with the phone when they get a new one.

You would have a point if the predominant channel for used phones is to nearby residents via Craigslist or something. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen at all, but it is not the most important path by any means. In real life, used phones are typically purchased by shops that pass them on to specialized reconditioning vendors, who inspect, polish, and sometimes even replace the batteries, before shipping them back out to used retailers. The original charger is reduced to electronic trash in this business model, because many of those retailers are actually located abroad, where they use different power plugs.

I am on my eighth iPhone, having sold the first seven (3G, 4, 5, 6, 6s, X, 13) on the used market after anywhere from two to four years of use. In no case was I even asked for the charger, because of what I’ve just explained.

 

[Piggie]

You would have a point if the predominant channel for used phones is to nearby residents via Craigslist or something. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen at all, but it is not the most important path by any means. In real life, used phones are typically purchased by shops that pass them on to specialized reconditioning vendors, who inspect, polish, and sometimes even replace the batteries, before shipping them back out to used retailers. The original charger is reduced to electronic trash in this business model, because many of those retailers are actually located abroad, where they use different power plugs.

I am on my eighth iPhone, having sold the first seven (3G, 4, 5, 6, 6s, X, 13) on the used market after anywhere from two to four years of use. In no case was I even asked for the charger, because of what I’ve just explained.

Just for the record, my last 3 phones I purchased pre-owned from shops and they all game with chargers 🙂
I'm aware as time goes on this probably won't continue as those people selling their phones to the companies won't have a charger to bundle with the phone anyway