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UCS Benefits

Environmental Benefits

UCS is based on a Common Power Supply (CPS) which must have a 4-star² or higher no-load energy rating (which uses up to three times less energy than an unrated charger) and which must meet or exceed all efficiency regulations³. With potentially 50% fewer chargers⁴ being manufactured each year, the industry can expect to reduce greenhouse gases produced in manufacturing and transporting of replacement chargers by 13.6 to 21.8 million tonnes a year. The widespread adoption of a Universal Charging Solution (UCS) is expected to result in:

• up to 50% reduction in standby energy consumption
• elimination of up to 51,000 tonnes of duplicate chargers¹
• enhance the end user experience and simplify the charging of mobile devices
  

Consumer Benefits

Removing the myriad models and connections involved in charging a mobile device will enhance and simplify the end-user experience. Consumers will be able to carry fewer chargers and charge mobile phones anywhere from any available charger. Consumers will also be able to re-use chargers even when they upgrade their phone or if they have different mobile phones from different manufacturers but still want to carry and use a single charger.

 

1 GSMA analysis from UNEP, Gartner, European Commission Integrated Product Policy Pilot on Mobile Phones, University of Southern Queensland data. An estimated 1.2 billion mobile phones were sold in 2008, of which between 50-80 per cent were replacement handsets. That equals between 51,000 and 82,000 tonnes of replacement chargers every year.
2 The Charger Energy Rating scheme is a voluntary initiative by several manufacturers to measure the amount of energy wasted when a charger is plugged in but not actively charging a connected device. 5 is the highest possible rating. UCS requirement is more stringent than the requirements of the European Directive 278/2009 on Energy Efficiency of External Power Supplies or the US Environmental Protection Agency ENERGY STAR V7.
3 based on European Directive 278/2009 on Energy Efficiency of External Power Supplies
4 Assumes that 50 per cent of phones are replacement phones