Dr. Thomas Lyon: Corporate Sustainability Initiatives

Article excerpt:

It is increasingly common for companies to make public claims about the sustainability of their products and business operations - but it’s not always clear how they are actually impacting the environment.

On Thursday, April 13, 2023, SciLine interviewed Dr. Thomas Lyon, a professor of sustainable science, technology, and commerce at the University of Michigan. He discussed topics including:

• “Greenwashing” (when companies overstate the impact of their sustainability practices) and how to avoid falling for it;

• Carbon credits—when companies pledge to offset the carbon footprint of their products, such as by planting trees—and how to tell if those efforts are having real impact;

• Common misconceptions about corporate environmental initiatives;

• Examples of business practices that, according to research, really do benefit the environment; and

• How to make purchases in a way that is environmentally friendly.