So very big, so little sustainability tech

One in three booths at CES featured a new AI or other product. If you wanted to find a robot lawn mower, throw a stone. Humanoid robots, smart locks and ultra-thin TVs were everywhere. But if you’re looking for durable products, you’ll have to hunt around a bit.

Last year, the Sustainability section of the Las Vegas Convention Center had 20 booths. This year there were 38, but that is partly due to the combination of the energy and sustainability categories. So exhibitors like South Korea’s largest power company, a nuclear power company from the same country and many battery manufacturers. There was also an AI data platform booth in the section that had nothing to do with sustainability, as far as I could tell. I guess the organizers don’t have room for all the AI ​​anymore.

In the sustainability section and other CES sites, I found some encouraging presentations of sustainable products—organizations and devices that were trying to solve the multitude of problems the world faces in energy production, climate, and pollution.

But none of these projects quite achieved Engadget’s Best of CES status this year. Some of the products we saw were large-scale, others weren’t quite ready for consumer consumption, and still others were too specialized or had too many caveats to make the list. I won’t go so far as to say that sustainability is dead at CES, because that sends me into a dark downward spiral, but it’s becoming rare, my friends.

Here are the companies I saw that had promising and innovative ideas. And damn, at least these guys are trying.

Brilliant Turbine 2.0

This little guy could be the precursor to serious personal wind power generation. This is where the business is headed. For now, the Shine 2.0 can use as little as a gentle breeze to start generating power to charge your smartphones, laptops, or even a power station. The entire unit weighs three pounds and sets up in about two minutes. The second generation model can produce up to 75 watts and the company is working on a third version of up to 100 watts for even greater power output.

Learn more about Shine.

Flintlock Battery Technology

When I approached the Flint booth, the representative told me that the company made cellulose-based batteries. And I thought, like batteries wrapped in paper? No. The chemicals in batteries are made of cellulose. They have solvent-free, lithium-free, and PFAS-free chemistry and decompose 70% within four weeks in a composting environment. They use the same basic architecture as a lithium-ion cell, with an anode, a cathode and a separator with ion transfers between the two. For now, Flint is focused on partnerships with manufacturers, and consumer products are on the horizon.

Learn more about Flint.

Clear Drop Soft Plastics Compactor

The Clear Drop is a soft plastic compactor that creates eight-by-twelve-by-four-inch bricks from hundreds of grocery bags, bubble wrap, ziplocks and plastic packaging. One brick is equivalent to a 30-pound trash bag. Once the brick is created, it can be shipped to one of Clear Drop’s partner locations in a prepaid USPS shipping envelope. They are currently working with a few US-based recycling facilities and hope to one day create an infrastructure that includes municipal recycling.

Learn more about Clear Drop.

Alpha Power by CPTI

From what I learned at the show, perovskite is the hottest thing in solar right now. It is a mineral compound used to create more efficient solar panels. Some are so sensitive to light that simple indoor lighting is enough to create usable energy. CPTI’s Alpha Power creates lightweight, flexible perovskite solar panels that can adapt to multiple surfaces. Again, this is a company that partners with manufacturers, so look for panels built into your laptop to charge it under the glare of your office’s overly bright lights.

Learn more about CPTI.

Green vigor

In the lower levels of the Venetian Expo at CES, I found Green Vigor in the Hong Kong pavilion. This small company offers two solutions to create energy for buildings by exploiting the energy potential of existing systems. HydroVigor generates electricity from water systems. So, every time someone washes their hands or flushes the toilet in a building, the system installed on the roof generates a little energy. CoolVigor uses the same principles to harness energy from HVAC systems. HydroVigor is currently used in many buildings in Singapore and Hong Kong and is working to expand to more buildings around the world.

Learn more about GreenVigor.

Jackery solar arbor

This outdoor hangout can produce up to 10 kWh of electricity per given day. It’s a modular design that lets you choose louvered walls, umbrellas, lights, and fans when you order it, and the solar panels are so strong that a life-size human representative of Jackery was able to stand on a sample panel in front of me and nothing is cracked (although the company officially rates it at 20 pounds of snow per square foot). You can use the energy directly, link it to your home system, feed it into the grid or connect it to one of Jackery’s many power stations to save energy for later. The gazebo costs $12,000 and will ship mid-2026.

Learn more about Jackery.

Bluetti motorhome solar system

Bluetti, like Jackery, is known for its wide range of portable and stationary power stations and batteries. This year it brought a new power station made with bio-based plastic as well as a DIY system for adding solar power to your existing campervan.

Learn more about Bluetti.

Wind energy production on loom

Engadget’s Anna Washenko does a great job explaining the technology behind Airloom. In short, it’s a wind power roller coaster that includes 40% less mass than a standard wind turbine and uses 42% fewer parts and 96% fewer unique parts. This makes deployment faster and less expensive to install. I can also be implemented in more places. Again, this is a large-scale solution, geared towards data centers and their insatiable need for energy to power very important AI elements.

Learn more about Airloom.

Gaotu Innovation Energy Group

If you are looking for something solar powered, contact Gaotu. At the company’s booth, I saw hats, a fishing chair, a backpack, a parasol, and a car roof that deploys to charge your Tesla. The Shenzhen-based company has been in business for 18 years and plans to continue sticking solar panels on everything it can.

Learn more about Gaotu.

Segway Muxi cargo electric bike

The largest booth in the sustainability section of CES was Segway. This year the company introduced two new e-bikes, covered by our own Dan Cooper. This one is the Muxi, a cargo bike with an easily replaceable battery, an optional passenger seat with footrest and an optional center basket. Plus a drink cup holder.

Learn more about Segway.

If we don’t all fall into the ocean before then, perhaps CES 2027 will feature a greater demonstration of sustainable technology. In the meantime, I will find a modicum of comfort in those few courageous organizations still dedicated to keeping us afloat.