The Consumer Technology Association® (CTA) today announced the recipients of its CES® 2024 Green Grants, which provides $125,000 in total funding to three Nevada organizations focused on sustainability. 2024 recipients are a statewide tree planting program, a food rescue program, and a solar charging project.
For over a decade, CTA has contributed nearly $800,000 through green grants to Las Vegas, demonstrating its commitment to giving back to the community that hosts the show.
“Through the CES Green Grants Program, CTA is proud to support projects and programs that make a positive environmental impact on our host city of Las Vegas,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CTA. “This year’s grant recipients embody CTA’s commitment to sustainability and support the United Nation’s Human Security for All (HS4A) framework, which includes technology as an enabler of human rights.”
Recipients awarded funding through CTA’s CES 2024 Green Grant program:
ImpactNV - $63,680: ImpactNV will use funds for an initiative to plant 100,000 trees in 10 years. The initiative aims to help the most vulnerable communities within the state, including those susceptible to extreme heat, compromised air quality, and other indicators of environmental injustice. The addition of 300 to 350 drought-resistant native trees in Southern Nevada is projected to eliminate around 13,000 pounds of carbon monoxide annually from the atmosphere.
“ImpactNV is proud to continue our long-standing relationship with the Consumer Technology Association on important community projects that make our state more sustainable,” said Lauren Boitel, executive director, ImpactNV. “This grant will contribute additional trees towards our 100,000-tree goal in communities that need them most while supporting our Guiding Principle of providing access to green spaces for all Nevadans.”
Three Square - $40,000: Square collaborates with community partners to repurpose food that would otherwise be wasted and distribute it to those facing food insecurity in Southern Nevada. In the past year, this program successfully saved over 14 million pounds of food, equivalent to more than 11.5 million meals. The funds will help expand Three Square capabilities,catalyze work to create a hunger-free community, and reduce emissions from food waste.
“In the United States, more than one-third of food is wasted or not consumed, posing a significant social and environmental issue,” said Beth Martino, president and CEO of Three Square Food Bank. “With the funds from the Greener Grant Program, Three Square can continue food rescue efforts that ensure healthy, fresh food gets distributed to those in need rather than being sent to landfills. On behalf of the one in eight individuals we are privileged to serve, we are deeply grateful for Consumer Technology Association and their commitment to ending hunger.”
Touro University Nevada - $21,320: Touro University plans to install two solar-powered outdoor charging workstations. These fully ADA compliant outdoor stations provide students and faculty with the opportunity to study or connect with peers while reducing the University's carbon footprint.
“It is a privilege for Touro University Nevada to be partnered with CES as we find new and innovative ways to continue being a green community leader,” said Dr. Andrew Priest, Campus President and Provost of Touro University Nevada. “We are grateful for their support in helping us reduce our carbon footprint while enhancing the college experience for students.”
At CES 2024, CTA launched the Consumer Technology Circularity Initiative (CTCI), a groundbreaking and voluntary industry initiative to reduce waste, encourage more reuse, enhance recycling, reduce climate impact, and see less disposal of consumer electronics. It builds on efforts in the environmental and sustainability field organized by CTA during the past decade focused on scrap consumer electronics collected for recycling. Founding companies: Lenovo, LG Electronics, Panasonic, Samsung, and Sony Electronics, Inc.
CTA’s Board of Industry Leaders is committed to industry-led efforts that promote environmental sustainability. Recently, the organization has led the development of technology standards focused on energy management, production, and consumption.