The China Communications Standards Association announced the formation of a new committee to set universal fast-charging standards on July 22 in Beijing. An official from the country’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said the move would help the country “build fast-charging standards based on self-developed technology as soon as possible.” Wen Ku, head of the Association, explained that the new standards would apply to phones and tablets. This could mean the development of a USB PD alternative within China, with such a development being touted as a way to simplify the consumer experience and to reduce the carbon footprint of such devices. In 2021, the European Commission found that 11,000 tonnes of chargers are disposed of globally every year. [CCTV, in Chinese]