Every AC-powered device uses a common cable and connector. Yet, DC-powered devices use so many incompatible, device-specific cables and connectors that the cables and connectors are normally useful only for one specific device, and thrown away at the end of the device's life. In United states only, over 400 million of such adapters are thrown away every year.

Green Plug is leveraging the universality of the USB connector for delivering power to low-power devices. Unmodified, standard USB cables can be used to connect Green PlugTM-enabled power supplies to low-power devices that get power over their USB connectors. Since USB provides for low-power only, Green Plug has extended the connector in a very innovative way such that high-power devices can all use the universal connector for power.