How could I miss it - and you did too. A very comprehensive article on standardization as a way to reduce environmental pollution has appeared here, and has almost gone unnoticed. I think it is worth reading, if only to acknowledge the existence of this issue and the need for all of us to pay attention to it.

Here is an excerpt of Enrico's conclusions from the study:

• The imposition to manufacturers of standards to improve environmental impact does not damage the market;
• The universal charger for mobile phones developed in Europe demonstrates that standards imposed by governments can be successful;
• The replacement of primary batteries with rechargeable batteries would reduce the global demand of portable batteries by 75 - 90%.

If the issue interests you I urge you to read the whole piece here...