This not only will save paper and the cost of printing and postage, says Clark, but also minimize the dumping of unused materials at hotels and other conference sites. People drag a lot of stuff to the hotel and leave behind what they don't use, Clark notes. Some environmentally friendly measures may be invisible to travelers. For example, convention sites may donate unserved food to shelters for homeless people. Even leftovers and food waste can be reused, says Clark.
Food services squeeze the water out of the waste and ship it to pig farms.
Big companies like Nike, GM and Ford have pledged to take the environment into account in planning their business travel, and they are collaborating with some hotel chains to accomplish that goal. The government also can make a difference, Clark points out, because it spends so much on travel each year. Not only will technology be good for the environment, but it will help conference planners and participants, too. With online registration, organizers can examine attendees experience and skill levels and match workshops to their needs, says Cheryl Thompson, who plans conferences for the U.S. Postal Service in St. Louis. Online registration also helps organizers coordinate logistics, such as arrival times, reducing costs.