2.06.2006 ET

(CSRwire) Portland, OR - Global mutual fund Portfolio 21 today announced its Top 10 financial performers among environmentally sustainable companies. The top performers in the fund posted returns ranging from 52% to 120% in 2005. Portfolio 21 invests in 80 companies selected from among 2,000 companies based in 16 countries, including the United States. It selects only those companies with an explicit commitment to sustainable business practices such as energy and resource efficiency, minimizing ecological impacts of products and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

"If you are a savvy investor interested in a good return, you need to pay attention to ecological trends and how they affect the bottom line," said Carsten Henningsen, co-founder of Portfolio 21. "Global warming will have an enormous impact on the global economy in the coming years; companies that are already addressing the risks and opportunities presented by climate change have a big head start."

More than 70 percent of the world's largest 500 companies (FT 500) are now addressing climate change in their corporate reporting, according to the Carbon Disclosure Project. In addition, 90 percent of those companies flagged climate change as posing commercial risks and/or opportunities to their business.

"There is mounting evidence that failure to respond to the business risks associated with climate change could result in multi-billion dollar losses for U.S. businesses and investment portfolios," said John Harrington, CEO of Harrington Investments and author of The Challenge To Power: Money, Investing and Democracy. "In addition, companies that take proactive measures to address climate risk enjoy lower costs, higher profit margins and enhanced customer loyalty. With companies outside the U.S. already taking a leading role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, American companies face a 'sustainability gap' that could affect their competitive edge."

Portfolio 21's Top 10 financial performers for the 12-month period ending Dec. 30, 2005, include:

Energy Conversion Devices: ECD develops products for the fields of alternative energy, electronic components and storage devices -- products include thin-film solar cells, energy storage (batteries), hydrogen storage and information technologies. ECD innovations include the technology for rewritable CDs and a new solar roof cell system. 2005 performance: 120%

JM: This Swedish construction and real estate company leads its industry in sustainable practices. The company's commitment to improvement ranges from the energy efficiency of the buildings it develops, to the direct CO2 emissions associated with its operations, to the number of building products in its environmental database. 2005 performance: 84%

Atlas Copco: As a manufacturer of industrial machinery and pneumatic tools, Sweden's Atlas Copco makes products for industries with significant environmental impacts. In designing its products the company strives to reduce lifecycle impacts by improving the environmental performance of every product design. With approximately 21% of revenues from its tool rental business, Atlas ensures reuse of its products and has programs to recycle tools when they reach the end of their useful life. 2005 performance: 77%

Mitsubishi Electric: Mitsubishi Electric has a three-pronged strategy for developing more sustainable products: material solutions, energy solutions, and toxicity solutions. CEO Tamotsu Nomakuchi sees development of environmentally-conscious products as the greatest contribution Mitsubishi Electric can make toward achieving a sustainable society. 2005 performance: 66%

Whole Foods Market With a wide range of certified organic produce, food products, and coffee grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides, WF supports the organic industry and local farmers. WF has eliminated genetically engineered ingredients from all its private label products, and in response to Portfolio 21's shareholder activism, recently agreed to label these products accordingly. 2005 performance: 61%

O2: British communications company O2 provides mobile communication equipment and phone and internet services in Europe. The company employs energy efficiency and renewable power, and works with suppliers to reduce the impact of operations. O2 operates collection stations for used handsets at its retail outlets and was a co-founder of Fonebak, an industry initiative for refurbishing, recycling and material recovery of mobile phones. 2005 performance: 60%

Toshiba: The electronics manufacturer takes responsibility for end-of-life product management and ensures that all new products undergo environmental assessments. Toshiba has developed energy-efficient products like refrigerators, TVs, vacuums and air conditioning units, and has adopted lead-free soldering in most products. The company built the world's first prototype of a small hydrogen fuel cell for portable PCs. 2005 performance: 60%

Ormat: Ormat is focused on recovered and geothermal energy, both of which are renewable and have low global warming profiles. Ormat uses closed loop systems for a majority of its geothermal facilities, has developed products and services related to recovered energy (specifically waste heat in industrial settings) and has R&D efforts in thermal solar and biomass power. 2005 performance: 55%

Sompo Japan Insurance Co.: Sompo discounts premiums for customers driving environmentally superior cars, offers an Eco-Parts Project using recycled parts for repairs, and its eco-driving campaign promotes safety and sustainability. Sompo also provides special insurance policies to protect clients, in the case of fire, for investments made in energy-efficient facilities or environmentally superior materials. 2005 performance: 53%

Vestas Wind Systems: Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas sees environmental considerations playing an increasingly important role in political and commercial decisions. Over half of Vestas' own electricity needs are met by renewable power sources, including wind turbines located at manufacturing sites. 2005 performance: 52%

As of 12/30/05 the companies listed above were held in Portfolio 21 in the following percentages: Energy Conversion Devices: 0.1%, JM: 1.4%, Atlas Copco: 1.4%, Mitsubishi Electric: 0.9%, Whole Foods Market: 1.6%, O2: 1.4%, Toshiba: 1.1%, Ormat: 0.2%, Sompo Japan Insurance Co.: 1.5%, and Vestas Wind Systems: 0.7%.

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