ODR: The next green giant

Abstract

The worlds of government and business, as well as individual preferences, are moving towards incorporating environmentally friendly practices. Dispute resolution, as with every other human endeavor, has environmental impact. Some practice modes leave a large environmental footprint while others incur less environmental cost. Online dispute resolution (ODR) enjoys clear environmental advantages over any other form of dispute resolution, yet this has not been discussed in the literature or spotlighted in the commercial practices of the field. This article describes the various environmental advantages ODR offers and suggests a framework for taking these into account in dispute resolution ventures and projects. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc., and the Association for Conflict Resolution.