This year’s Consumer Electronics Show seemed to have an official theme of environmentalism. With every company hawking their latest green wares it felt like the tech industry had major some major leaps forward in reducing its environmental impact.

But how many of these eco-friendly gadgets were having a real impact and how many were just slapping a green sticker on and making some weak claims to ease their customers consciences?

According to the Environmental Defense Fund there is still a long way to go on the path to greener gadgets. Elizabeth Sturcken, the Fund’s Managing Director of Corporate Partnerships, said that many of the companies in the tech industry are hiding behind a “green cloak”.

Frodo’s cloak from the Lord of the Rings you ask? No, we say, not even close.

The cloak Sturcken refers to regards things like the fact that although many computer and TV companies have recycling programs, there are generally only a couple in each state.

According to the Environmental Defense Fund, each year 400 million electronic devices are thrown in the garbage and that an average of 15 - 17 percent of all the electricity consumed in California residences is used by electronic gadgets.

While it’s good to see that tech companies are making an effort with things like LG’s new eco-friendly TV that uses 50 percent less power and the Motorola W233 Renew which claims to be carbon neutral, it’s still a big steep hill that still needs to be climbed.

If you prefer a simpler sort of phone gadget, the Motorola Renew might be just the ticket. The Motorola Renew is the first phone made of recycled products, made from plastic comprised of recycled bottles.  Twenty percent less energy is used during production, compared to standard plastic processes. The Motorola W233 Renew is also the world’s first carbon neutral phone.

Moreover, the Motorola Renew comes with an in-box postage-paid recycling envelope so that you can ship off your prior phone for recycling.

So is there a downside to this eco-friendly technology? Well, if you’re the iPhone type of user, don’t expect to replace your fancy, schmancy multimedia phone with the Motorola Renew, as its list of features are far more limited.

The Motorola Renew will supposedly launch in February 2009, with T-Mobile USA as the first carrier to subsidize it.