All the activities regarding environmental conservation were summarized and the rate of activities was checked by industry type. The result shows that some industry types consume a large amount of energy at the manufacturing stage and manufacturers of final finished products for consumers show high rates. Processing type manufacturing industries are relatively enthusiastic towards green procurement and environment-friendly design and non-manufacturing industries concentrate on office energy conservation.

We studied the proportion of activities that are being implemented and the proportion of activities that are being examined according to the contents. The result shows that the measures leading to cost reduction such as energy conservation at the manufacturing stage and reduction of industrial waste are implemented as the first stage in addition to the environmental effects. Then, the measures are spread to green procurement and environment-friendly design.

The contents of the activities taken by each industry and the difference of degree receive serious influence from the requirements of the prospective customers, such as business associates as customers and consumers and the condition of each industry. This indicates the possibility that the implementation status of activities taken by the downstream industries gradually influences the upstream industries within the

Contents of environmental conservation measures taken by all the industries

Note: Each company may choose up to two of the following items as the major measures for each of "being implemented" and "being examined."

"Office energy conservation", "Recycling and reduction of industrial waste and recycling", "Energy conservation at manufacturing", "ISO certification acquisition", "Green procurement", "Environment-friendly design", "Material distribution efficiency improvement", and "Disclosure of environment information"

Presentation: Prepared by the Ministry of the Environment based on Nihon Life Insurance, "Nissei Economic Condition Questionnaires February 2001" by Nissei Foundation Research Center

complicated socio-economic system, and the intentions and behaviors of the final consumers may change the actions taken by enterprises.

## 4 ) Conformity with revenue improvement measures of enterprises

Under the current difficult economic conditions, Japanese enterprises are working hard to improve their performance. Among the activities that are being taken, active improvement of management efficiency such as introduction of IT led to a reduction of environmental load and shift of the emphasis from sale of materials to sale of services, such as leasing contract of automobiles, various rental services, and sale of products integrating with repair reform service resulted in a reduction of environmental load. In this way, the direction of activities for performance improvement match that of measures for environmental conservation.

As discussed above, the situations surrounding enterprises further emphasize the relationship with the environment and environmental countermeasures are being recognized as business opportunities also, as well as mere constraints of activities.

Transition of the number of domestic vehicle sales and leased or rented vehicles

Presentation: Prepared by Ministry of the Environment based on the "Automobile Statistics Yearbook" and "Japan's Automobile Industry" by the Japan Automobile Industry Association, "Land-borne Statistics Directory" by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, and "Lease Handbook" by Lease Industry Association.