Op-Ed: Time To Ask For Green Accountability

Going "green," or being environmentally responsible, is an important new imperative throughout American business. We in the travel industry need to do our part to hold ourselves and our suppliers accountable to be green, and here's why:

In 2009, the televisions in the United States are scheduled to change from analog to digital signals. This means there will be an enormous number of obsolete TVs discarded in favor of newer digital models. Hotel suppliers, for example, are migrating from the standard box TVs to install newer flat-panel units as part of refurbishment plans and periodic upgrades. Refurnishing also means discarding acres of carpeting and flooring materials.

Where will all this waste go? Will it end up in landfills and harm the environment? The answer, in part, depends on choices we make about holding our suppliers accountable for their environmental practices.

As a socially conscious industry, we are obligated to ask our suppliers about their plans for responsible disposal of hazardous materials, such as those found in TV sets and monitors. By doing business with environmentally conscious companies in the supply chain, we can actively contribute to preserving the environment. In addition, by supporting and rewarding environmentally accountable suppliers, we can raise the level of environmental practices across our industry.

At HP, we require our suppliers to meet our own stringent environmental expectations, no matter where they operate. These include the Electronic Industry Code of Conduct.

Business travel buyers have a unique opportunity to send a message to our supplier partners that being environmentally responsible is a required standard. If united, we can achieve significant gains in environmental practices and have a positive impact on the environment.

That's an outcome we can all support.