IBM, Nokia, Pitney Bowes and Sony launched Eco-Patent Commons in January 2008 in partnership with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Patents are made available to the public on a website hosted by the WBCSD and membership is open to all individuals and companies.

Free, easy to understand summaries of the patents are provided in an effort to help other companies solve their own environmental problems. Patents involve innovations directly related to the environment or innovations in manufacturing or business processes.

The addition of Bosch, DuPont and Xerox has more than doubled the total number of eco-patents available. Xerox has contributed technology which reduces the time and cost of removing toxic waste from water and soil. One of DuPont's patents uses enzymes to convert non-recyclable plastics into fertilizer and Bosch's automotive technologies lower fuel consumption and reduce emissions.