DailyTech reported in February that by 2012 GSM mobile phones would settle on a single charger standard using microUSB. That would mean when users get a new phone, they could keep the same charger, reducing waste. The universal charger standard has been officially approved in Europe.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has approved the new standard. According to industry body GSMA each year, there are 51,000 tons of redundant chargers produced. This is due to the fact that most chargers are proprietary and are replaced when the user upgrades to a new device.

The new universal chargers are also more energy efficient and the GSMA estimates that they will reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere by 13.6 million tons.

"This is a significant step in reducing the environmental impact of mobile charging," said Malcolm Johnson, director of ITU's Telecommunication Standardization Bureau. "Universal chargers are a common-sense solution that I look forward to seeing in other areas."

The move to universal chargers is not mandatory for manufacturers according to the ITU, though it reports some manufacturers have already signed up to use the new universal format. Sony Ericsson told the BBC, "We are planning to launch the universal charger internationally during the first half of 2010. We will roll it out with new products as they launch."