Toxic Nation | Pollution. It's In You.

When it comes to developments in green technology, most of us are in the dark. Private corporations have traditionally been very secretive about sharing the details of their technologies and they tend to keep patents close to their chests. A new initiative created by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development has given us a window into that knowledge.

It’s called the Eco-Patent Commons and its members include Bosch, Dupont, Xerox, IBM, Nokia, Sony, and Pitney Bowes. Anyone can now surf the public website for company patents on green technologies, new recycling processes, or ways to decontaminate soil or ground water.

By sharing this information with the public, other companies have the opportunity to expand the application of these green technologies, and at the same time the large corporations have an opportunity to flex their environmental stewardship muscle.

Some 75 patents have been listed since January 2008 and at least three have been applied by new companies.

If you feel inclined to step foot into the green technology field or you’re looking for inspiration, check out the Eco-Patent Commons website.

Read more:

Major companies agree to make anti-pollution patents public. Martin Mittelstaedt, September 11, 2008. Globe and Mail.