Technology Creating a Sustainable Future

We acknowledge the importance of protecting our planet year-round, but especially as we celebrate Earth Day. The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) recognizes our members who are championing sustainable technology and creating a more environmentally friendly path for future generations.

The consumer technology industry has made significant progress in developing smaller, recyclable, and more energy-efficient products. From laptops to smartphones, these devices power our world and help us stay connected, productive, and entertained. Even though we depend on these products more than ever before, energy use from consumer technology products is on a dramatic decline. The total number of consumer electronics devices in homes today is 400 million more than a decade ago, yet less total energy is used to power them all – 17 TWh less energy to be exact, according to a recent CTA-commissioned study. And according to the latest U.S. EPA data (see Table 14), the e-waste from consumer electronics has also declined since 2010.

To continue advancing environmental sustainability, it essential to encourage cross-sector collaboration. Through award-winning voluntary agreements with various stakeholders, energy usage of set-top boxes has been cut by more than half in the United States, saving consumers $9.3 billion in total energy costs since the agreement was established eight years ago. CTA also collaborated on an agreement to advance energy efficiency of residential broadband equipment, including routers and modems.

CTA members are broadly committed to reducing environmental impacts. Our report on Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) measures a company’s direct, indirect, and value chain emissions, and we are proud to say our member companies received scores in the “A” range for their emission reduction achievements. These companies recognize the need to prioritize environmental stewardship throughout the year.

Creating environmentally friendly technology – whether it uses less material, packaging, or energy, is recyclable, or produces less waste or emissions – is an exciting and especially meaningful facet of innovation. Many of these earth friendly technologies can be seen on display at CES, from electric vehicles to energy-efficient home appliances. As we strive to live in a cleaner world, technology companies remain committed to creating a more sustainable future.