Panasonic's reputation as an environmentally-conscious company dates back to founder Konosuke Matsushita and his belief in putting people before products. From the establishment in 1970 of a pollution survey committee to the formation in 2006 of a full-time environmental specialist position, Panasonic has been developing eco-friendly policies in a quest to minimize its impact on the environment. As a result, the company has been recognized with environmental awards by groups ranging from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Greenpeace to Dow Jones.