The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the body responsible for international electro-technology standards, has published its universal phone charger standard for data-enabled mobile telephones. It covers all aspects of the charger, connector and plug, as well as safety, interoperability and environmental considerations.
The new IEC International Standard IEC 62684 is based on the micro USB connection. The European Commission, the International Telecommunications Union and the CTIA have all previously expressed a preference for this type of plug.
Ronnie Amit, IEC General Secretary and CEO, said “We all have drawers full of chargers that became obsolete as soon as we buy a new phone. Today, we have a truly operational global standard that will allow the industry to end this waste and significantly reduce environmental impact. This is something millions of consumers have been waiting for. I am proud that the IEC has managed to get the best possible technical solution in record time to the market.”
Around 51,000 tonnes of redundant chargers are manufactured each year, according to a report from the GSMA.