While many individual Japanese investors are interested in taking part in so-called ecology funds, few have actually invested in them, according to a recent Internet survey released by the Environment Ministry.

Although 76.9 percent of individual investors here said they have some interest in eco-funds, which invest in companies deemed to be determined about taking environment conservation measures, only 1.2 percent of them said they have purchased them.

The survey compared individual investors in Britain, Japan and the United States.

It found that while Japanese express more interest in eco-funds than their U.S. and British counterparts, they actually invest in them much less than their counterparts do.

In the U.S., 69 percent of individual investors are interested in eco-funds and 12 percent have invested in them, while in Britain, 66.9 percent care about the funds and 6.1 percent have invested in them, according to the survey.

Many Japanese investors who have bought or are interested in eco-funds said they don't get enough information on them. They also find it hard to understand how to invest in eco-funds and differentiate between these and other types of funds, the survey found.

Of the people who have no interest in eco-funds, 56.8 percent likewise said they do not have a good understanding about these investment vehicles.

"Lack of publicity activities is the biggest reason for the unpopularity," a ministry official said in referring to the findings of the survey.

The ministry said the survey is based on responses given by 1,670 Japanese, 309 people in the U.S. and 306 Britons between December and January over the Internet.