Eco500 ratings evaluate environmental content within the websites of the world's largest corporations. Our criteria include quality of environmental content, ease of access to green information, general design, and inclusion of a clear environmental policy statement.(Click HERE for full details). Mr. Matsunaga and Mr. Hayashi Among Fortune Magazine's Global 500 companies, NEC was the only one to receive a perfect score of 100 points for its excellent environmental website. Available in both English and Japanese, the NEC environmental site is a good example of what a corporate environmental website can be, and how it can be integrated into a company's overall environmental and communications strategy. Intrigued, the eco500 team visited NEC's new environment-friendly corporate headquarters to chat with key members of the NEC Environmental Planning Promotion Center, Mr. Hayashi and Mr. Matsunaga.
	Here are a few highlights. NEC formed its environmental section in 1969, a year prior to the creation of Japan's Environmental Agency. The three decades since have seen a number of NEC environmental actions, including establishment of an environmental officer on the board of directors in 1970, introduction of environmental auditing in 1973, inauguration of a zero emissions program in 1985, and the development of an environmental logo in 1998. Energy saving and waste reduction, along with green procurement and nature preservation, spearhead an environmental policy that seems thoroughly integrated within the company. Created in 1996, the environmental site provides a medium for the Environmental Planning Promotion Center staff to communicate directly with the public at large. environmental logo
	The NEC website reportedly averages 400,000 page views per month, or over 10,000 per day--and the number seems to be increasing. This may reflect the growing interest in environmental issues in Japan and overseas, where many of the "hits" originate. It suggests that many are looking to corporate environmental websites to ascertain a company's "green policy." "The beauty of the Internet is interactivity: the ability to communicate quickly and directly with visitors to our site," says Matsunaga. NEC took early advantage of the Web to initiate promotional and communciation strategies.
	Hayashi points out that the Internet enables NEC to publicize its environmental activities with swiftness and regularity, and that the Internet will come to dominate corporate environmental communications. "The Web will no doubt become the cornerstone of our environmental communication strategy," he says. NEC revamped its website in April 2000, with enhancements such as an Environmental Solution Programs section, and information about recycling of computer parts. A direct e-mail link to the Environmental Planning Promotion Center is a popular feature--last year the Center received 120 messages, and this year the Center receives about 30 per month. Matsunaga is responsible for replying to the messages, "We have a fine system in place to ensure swift response: me!" Thus, NEC staff believe that environmental website content can be key to corporate environmental and communications strategy. Hayashi and Matsunaga believe that the importance of the NEC site's environmental content will continue to grow rapidly in the years to come.