Down To Business: CES Goes Over The Top With 'Greenest' Claims

CES is showcasing the latest eco-friendly products and technologies, including green building materials, alternative energy technologies, smart grid technologies, solar and renewable products, sustainable packaging, wireless convergence technologies, and a slew of products in its 3,500-square-foot Electric Vehicle TechZone. The conference organizers fail to mention, however, the megatons of waste that will be generated by the thousands of other products on exhibit in its cavernous halls, as consumers heave their one- and two-year-old smartphones, tablets, TVs, and music players for the latest and greatest versions.

The show notes that 68% of the 147 tons of solid waste generated by attendees last year was recycled. It points to its recycling bins, recyclable carpeting, recyclable wall and counter panels, and recyclable paper towels and toilet paper (really?). Most of its conference brochures and exhibitor manuals are now virtual. Fair enough -- the show appears to be making an earnest effort here.

CES says it "diverted all light bulbs used by the show from landfills, as well as batteries and other electronics products." Diverted to where exactly, outer space? Or ultimately to dumps in China and elsewhere, as this 2008 60 Minutes piece, "The Electronic Wasteland," chronicled?

The show's caterer, Aramark, offers bulk condiments instead of individual packages, offers biodegradable food containers and utensils, uses energy-efficient dishwashers, and participates in recycling efforts of its own.

The Las Vegas Convention Center and adjunct show venues at the Venetian/Palazzo use lots of eco-friendly materials and systems and do plenty of recycling and conservation. So does general service contractor Global Experience Specialists, mostly in the booth packages it offers exhibitors.

But here's the topper: The organizers maintain that by having an average of 12 meetings at CES, attendees collectively avoid more than 960 million miles in business trips that they otherwise would have to take. The estimated total net savings in travel miles: 549 million. Shoot, why not round it up to 1 billion? The rationale has a certain Al Gore tinge to it: Don't pay attention to the carbon footprint I generate; just think of all the nebulous carbon avoidance my important work makes possible.