CEA, EDF Introduce Eco Challenge for CRTs

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and the Environmental Defense Fund have announced The Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Challenge: New Uses for Recycled Glass,” an initiative to develop an economic and environmental solution to the challenge of recycling obsolete CRTs.

The challenge, sponsored by CEA, officially opened Nov. 14, 2011, and will be accept submissions for 30 days. The winning solution will be assessed for economic as well as environmental and health benefits, and will be awarded $5,000 provided by the CEA. Up to four additional solutions are eligible for awards of $1,000 or more.

Upon completion of the challenge, CEA and EDF will publicize and share the solution(s) with manufacturers, retailers and recyclers in an effort to transform how lead-heavy glass is recycled or reused. Additional details about this Eco-Challenge are also available in the EDF Pavilion on the InnoCentive website at www.innocentive.com/ar/challenge/9932968.

Walter Alcorn, vice president of environmental affairs and industry sustainability for the CEA, says, “The consumer electronics industry is committed to the mission of eCycling and this challenge has the potential for electronics recycling to take a giant step forward. We're very excited about this challenge and the innovative solutions it could yield.”

The challenge is part of the EDF-InnoCentive Eco-Challenge Series, launched by EDF in early 2011 in partnership with InnoCentive. The series uses the challenge-driven Innovation methodology developed by InnoCentive to accelerate open innovation in commercial, nonprofit and public sector organizations.

“For over 20 years, EDF has catalyzed environmental innovation in corporate America,” says Gwen Ruta, EDF vice president of corporate partnerships. “With the EDF-InnoCentive Eco-Challenge Series, we are tapping the collective brainpower of innovators around the world to help us solve new environmental challenges in ways that are good for both business and the planet.”

Earlier this year, CEA launched the eCycling Leadership Initiative, an industry-led effort to responsibly recycle one billion pounds of electronics per year, with the goal of improving eCycling infrastructure and developing partnerships to help reach 1billion pounds. The initiative also seeks to shore up consumer education and report on progress for all of its goals.