- Employee

Achieving a balance between ecology and economy is of paramount importance in resolving global environmental problems. Nevertheless, it can be hardly said that effective tools for balancing the two have yet been developed; but some of tools that do exist—public policies—can be categorised into three types: administrative regulations, economic measures, and promotion of voluntary corporate activities. Numerous studies have been done concerning regulatory tools, such as administrative environmental regulations, and economic measures such as green taxes and levies. On the other hand, a sufficient number of studies have not been conducted to date on public policies for the promotion of voluntary corporate activities for environmental conservation, although their importance is widely recognised. Therefore, there has tended to be a lack of the empirical evidence and theoretical support needed to develop new public policies in this regard. Hence, the Business and the Environment (BE) Project continued research in its second phase on the theory and practices for the promotion of voluntary corporate activities. For the promotion of voluntary corporate activities for environmental conservation, a mechanism that encourages companies to initiate environmental conservation activities on their own should be constructed. Also, the market and society should duly appreciate and support these companies, because this, in turn, further motivates them to step-up their environmental conservation efforts. In other words, it is very important to create a virtuous cycle, a