After a long journey, your mobile phone “low battery” indicator is flashing that it is time to recharge. But after fishing around in your travel bag, it dawns that in the rush to depart you grabbed the wrong charger.

For years, business travellers have wondered why no one has come up with a viable “universal” charger – one single gadget that could recharge any mobile device – or at least any mobile phone. Their frustration may be coming to an end thanks to an initiative that aims to reduce the environmental effects of redundant peripherals.