CEA Recycled More Than 75 Percent of Material Used in Producing the International CES - The UpStream

CEA Recycled More Than 75 Percent of Material Used in Producing the International CES

posted Friday Apr 20, 2012 by Nicholas DiMeo

CEA Recycled More Than 75 Percent of Material Used in Producing the International CES

It's very rare that we simply come across a "feel good" story in the tech space. Somebody's always up to something mischievous or a company is under scrutiny for unethical practices. Seldom do we have an organization that is doing something good for the environment. This week, I am proud to say that we have some good news.

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) annually produces the International Consumer Electronics Show, which is the largest show in its space by a lot. As you would imagine, a lot goes into producing the show, especially a lot of materials. Tons of paper, loads of vinyl for the badges, light fixtures and other material are all used to make the show the best it can be. Every year the CEA works on trying to neutralize its carbon footprint and recycle as much of the material as possible.

This year we were told all of our badge material was recycled from last year's banners and we knew that there were more materials that were recycled but we didn't expect it to be on this sort of scale.

How far did the CEA go this year? We'll tell you after the break, complete with the press release.

The International CES has been named North America's Greenest Show by Trade Show Executive Magazine for their efforts this year. They were able to successfully recycle 75 percent of show materials, including 50,000 pounds of show publications.

We have the complete press release below.

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), owner and producer of the International CES, significantly expanded its recycling and repurposing efforts at the 2012 International CES in Las Vegas, January 10-13, by recycling 75 percent of show materials. The International CES is the world's largest technology tradeshow, and has been named North America's Greenest Show by Trade Show Executive Magazine.

This year, CEA collected a record amount of materials to recycle and repurpose:

More than 35,700 square feet, equivalent to 20,000 pounds, of magnetic banners;

28,600 square feet of vinyl banners;

16,000 square feet of other show signs and materials; and

For the first time, almost 50,000 pounds of show publications.

"Every year, we work tirelessly to make the International CES even more environmentally sustainable than the year before," said Karen Chupka, senior vice president, events and conferences, CEA. "This year, we exceeded years past, increasing the overall reuse and recycle rate to 75 percent of all CES materials."

By repurposing used vinyl banners from the 2011 International CES, CEA commissioned the creation of 190,000 badge holders for the 2012 show, an unprecedented effort to reuse show materials. Following the 2012 CES, CEA collected 11,000 of those recycled badge holders and will repurpose them for a third life at the 2013 International CES next January.

In addition to the continued greening of the International CES, CEA also supports green nonprofits near the site of the show in Las Vegas. This year, CEA donated the following:

$50,000 to Green Chips, a local Las Vegas charity supporting sustainable initiatives including solar panel installations. The donated funds will go toward new solar panels at the Las Vegas Rescue Mission, which serves those in need in Southern Nevada by providing food, clothing, shelter, and ongoing services and programs. As Las Vegas has more than 300 days of sunshine a year, these new solar panels are incredibly efficient in reducing the Rescue Mission's energy bills while using and promoting clean energy.

$25,000 to Repurpose America, which will take signs and other materials from the 2012 CES to repurpose as new sun shade structures at two local community centers in Las Vegas.

...For more information on the sustainability practices of the 2012 International CES, please go to CESweb.org/green.

It feels good knowing that we were a part of it all and they are striving each year to get better and better. My hat is off to the people at the CEA and everyone who goes into producing the International CES each and every year. For more information, check the source link below for the eCycling Leadership Initiative.

Do you know of any other conventions that try to maintain a more environmentally sustainable production? Tell us in the comments section below.

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