The Eco500 project came about as a result of research undertaken by PlanetBound Inc., a Tokyo-based firm specializing in Internet-based environmental communication. By studying the websites of the world's largest corporations, we intended to gauge the importance that companies in diverse industry sectors and markets place on communicating a commitment to environmental responsibility and conservation. Thus, we hoped to understand the changing attitudes of business with respect to environmental accountability -- both to shareholders and the public at large. The results of our preliminary study of the world's top companies were so interesting and informative that we decided to publish them on the Internet, in celebration of Earth Day 2000.

We think that the world may soon enter an era of sharply-increased environmental awareness, involving individuals, governments and businesses in a much more positive, proactive approach to protecting precious environmental resources. As corporations and individuals continue to confront the true costs of environmental destruction, it will become increasingly clear that environmental responsibility is not only a moral obligation to future generations, but also an essential investment in the continued prosperity of corporations themselves.

An important aspect of our project, and the diverse future projects which we are planning, is the Japan connection. Japanese society is, in many ways, built on consensus and cooperation, and we believe that this approach may be key to encouraging positive, constructive movement toward greater environmental responsibility. While our rapidly-growing team of communications and environmental experts includes people of many nationalities, we acknowledge the influence of Japan, the country where the project is based, in providing a certain inspiration for an organic, fundamentally positive approach to tackling the most important environmental issues of our time -- and beyond.

We live in a global era. We are using a most global tool一the Internet一to focus positive attention on a most global set of issues一things environmental. We hope to provide a new venue for a broad range of constructive, informative, and entertaining approaches to accelerating positive cooperation among businesses, governments, environmental groups, and individual citizens the world over. The Eco500 Rankings are just the first step of many which we have planned for the coming months. As we continue to upgrade the Eco500, several other major site launches are in the works. Please check back for updates!

The eco500 team