Taking charge...

When it comes to improvements in mobile phones there is plenty to be thankful about. The days when owning a mobile phone was pretty much the same as carrying round a brick (minus the annoying ring tone) are long gone.

According to the Telegraph the latest mobile phone improvement will see the world’s biggest phone manufacturers adopt a universal standard phone charger in a bid to be more sustainable.

Most of the main manufacturers, including Nokia, Motorola and Sony Ericsson, have signed up to the scheme where the mini-USB plug will be adopted as the standard charger for all handsets.The new chargers will use half as much energy, and will be supported by the majority of mobile phones by 2012.

A standardised charger will also mean customers won’t need a new charger with every new phone but can just reuse the one they’ve got. This means there will be fewer redundant ones going to landfill which is good news.

Now we just need to get people replacing their mobile phone less often, and recycling old ones. Apparently less than 18% of discarded phones are recycled. Find out how to raise money for charity by recycling your phone here.