Stories from Eric Justian
Voices for Change
White Castle Bets on Veggie Sliders
News has been spreading of White Castle’s new veggie sliders. Why should we care? Because we care about broader acknowledgement of health […]
January 9, 2015
Finance
New Study Shows Record-Setting Wealth Gap
The Holidays! Food! Fun! Festivities! Gifts! Oh man … oh so many gifts for the little ones and the family, […]
December 24, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
Has the Global Trade Engine Stalled?
For over 40 years, global trade has grown at a pretty decent clip relative to GDP. That is, up until […]
December 19, 2014
Finance
Global Internship Program Combats Youth Unemployment
The Alcoa Foundation, in partnership with the Institute of International Education, is contributing $1.25 million to a paid youth-internship program in […]
November 21, 2014
Energy
Baker Hughes Fights Breast Cancer With Pink Fracking Drill Bits
Paint it pink. Why not? The pink-ification of just about everything to raise breast cancer awareness may have run up against its […]
October 24, 2014
Voices for Change
National Organization of Woman Accused of Quid Pro Quo in Chevron Case
Ed note: This article and its title have been updated since this piece was first published and includes statements from […]
October 20, 2014
Energy
Retailers Cite Low Wages as Major Threat to Business
Two-thirds of America’s largest retailers, most of which pay minimum wage, are citing “flat or falling disposable incomes” as a […]
October 17, 2014
Technology
Vast Methane Cloud Confirmed Over the American Southwest
At first NASA scientists didn’t believe it, thinking it was an instrument error. But then came the confirmation. They had […]
October 16, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
China Plans World's Largest CO2 Market While U.S. Drags Its Feet
Upon learning today that China has a plan in place for a carbon emissions “cap and trade” market by 2016, […]
September 3, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
Taking Sustainability Beyond the Company Walls
A thoughtful article in the Economist suggests we should be more rigorous with the meaning of ‘sustainability’ in the corporate world, […]
September 2, 2014
Energy
NLRB: McDonald's Can No Longer Duck Responsibility for Bad Labor Practices
On Tuesday the U.S. National Labor Relations Board found that McDonald’s is a joint employer with its franchisees and can be […]
July 31, 2014
Finance
Swaddle Baby's Bottom with Jellyfish!
I type here today to testify about the avalanche of diapers going into our landfills and the bizarre or ingenious […]
July 30, 2014
Energy
Detroit Suspends Water Shutoffs After Protests and U.N. Condemnation
Following massive Friday protests that led to nine arrests, the city of Detroit announced on Monday it is suspending its sweeping water […]
July 22, 2014
Energy
Walmart Sees Gold in Small Neighborhood Grocery Stores
Go small or go home. That’s my motto. Or it would be if I had a motto. And it seems that’s […]
July 11, 2014
Energy
Shocker: 89 Percent of Fast Food Workers are Victims of Wage Theft
As if it’s not enough that so many minimum wage workers can’t make ends meet on an honest day’s work, […]
April 4, 2014
Finance
Housing the Homeless Saves Taxpayers Money, (Another) Study Shows
A new analysis from Charlotte, N.C. once again shows what we’ve learned from many other case studies: It costs taxpayers […]
March 27, 2014
Finance
New EPA Emissions Standard Saves Lives, Creates Jobs
New fuel efficiency and emissions standards are creating stronger automotive jobs in the U.S., as research and development firms wind up […]
March 21, 2014
Sponsored
Sustainable Seafood
Can We Stop Overfishing Before It's Too Late?
Fish has been part of the human diet and culture since the beginning of time. It seems almost inconceivable that […]
March 14, 2014
Voices for Change
First Pro-Weed Commercial Airs on Major Networks
It seems to be just a matter of time. Marijuana legalization is moving across the country. Today, 20 states already […]
March 6, 2014
Energy
Energy Efficiency Contributes to Dwindling Electricity Demand, Study Says
If your business is selling electricity, then a new analysis by the American Council for an Energy-Efficiency Economy showing flatlining […]
February 28, 2014
Technology
Lawsuit: Silicon Valley Under Scrutiny for $9 Billion in Wage Theft Conspiracy
Ironically, the importance and tight demand for high-tech human resources may have lead Silicon Valley companies to engage in practices […]
February 26, 2014
Energy
If In-N-Out Can Pay (a Lot) More Than Minimum Wage, Why Can't McDonald's?
Here’s an interesting point about corporate social responsibility: Major companies can choose to lead the charge, or if they neglect […]
February 19, 2014
Energy
Long John Silver's Hoists Jolly Roger for Sustainable Seafood
Thanks to a new Long John Silver’s ad campaign and its upcoming elimination of trans fats, one of my guilty […]
February 14, 2014
Energy
States Reap the Benefits of US Solar Job Surge
As solar photovoltaic technology sees greater efficiency and declining levelized costs, rivaling coal, demand for solar is rising and so […]
February 12, 2014
Voices for Change
Even Corn Syrup Officials Call Attempted HFCS Rebranding "Dishonest and Sneaky"
Maybe you remember way back in 2010 when the Corn Refiners Association (CRA) put out silly commercials and tried to […]
February 5, 2014
Energy
China Slaps Massive Tariff on U.S. Imported Solar Materials
In the midst of an international trade dispute over solar components and threats of Chinese tariffs, Michigan-based Hemlock Semiconductors permanently […]
January 23, 2014
Energy
Local Beer Will Save us All
We all knew it, didn’t we? That the world’s salvation might at least partially be found in that most ancient […]
January 21, 2014
Energy
Australian PM Ignores Climate Change, Trades Renewables for Coal
At least the U.S. doesn’t hold a monopoly on climate change denialists in public office. The Australian government, under Prime […]
January 16, 2014
Finance
US Plug-In Electric Vehicle Sales Nearly Double In 2013
Good news for those living at the intersection of manufacturing and environmentalism. Here in the U.S., sales of plug-in electric […]
January 9, 2014
Energy
American Petroleum Institute Sues EPA Over New Biofuel Mandates
If it was anybody else I might take the objection more seriously, but when an oil lobbying group sues the […]
October 11, 2013
Energy
Brits to Buy Solar Arrays with their Ektorp Sofas
Hold on, I need to look at my list here. I need to buy some Swedish meatballs, a couple chairs, […]
October 4, 2013
Responsible Corporations Back Intern Bill of Rights
Internships are important. They’re a longstanding and respectable way for new workers to cut their teeth on a trade, gaining […]
September 27, 2013
Finance
FTC Green Guides Report Helps Marketers Avoid the Pitfalls of Greenwashing
“Greenwashing” is a threat to environmental responsibility. A new report titled How to Make Credible Green Marketing Claims: What Marketers […]
September 19, 2013
Sponsored
Understanding Sustainable Forestry
The State of the Earth's Forests
Read more in this series My aunt Margie, at the age of 99, used to marvel at all the trees […]
September 17, 2013
Michigan Experiments with Social Impact Bonds
Just a few years ago we saw a dramatic example of privatized gain buoyed by socialized risk when taxpayers ponied […]
September 17, 2013
Climate Change Action as a Conservative Issue
While some may cry “deja vu,” there’s another growing movement of Republicans urging cooperation on climate change action. And it […]
August 30, 2013
Voices for Change
New York Picks Greek Yogurt Over Clean Water
I don’t get the Greek yogurt craze. Sure, I like Greek yogurt as much as the next guy. It’s pretty […]
August 7, 2013
Finance
Small Businesses Especially Vulnerable to Damaging Effects of Climate Change
Thirty percent of the small businesses crippled by Hurricane Sandy never opened their doors again. That accounts for about 20,000 […]
August 1, 2013
Chevron to Seize Private Data from American Activists and Journalists
Add Chevron to the list of organizations groping through Americans’ personal email metadata. And the reason appears largely retaliatory for […]
July 26, 2013
Finance
Climate Change Threatens Electricity Production
Last week, the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station had to temporarily reduce power output by 15 percent in a summer heat wave […]
July 23, 2013
Energy
Making Cities More Resilient in the Face of Climate Change
Cities around the world, aided by long-sighted business leaders, are working to “future proof” themselves against disaster. Recently, the 4th […]
July 16, 2013
Energy
Straw in Hand, Water-Strained City Thirstily Eyes Great Lakes
Be careful, Waukesha, Wisconsin. Some lawmakers have actually threatened to cash in their favors to the Michigan Militia to keep […]
July 12, 2013
Energy
House Budget Slashes Renewable Energy, Calls for $500 Billion Mars Colony
You won’t catch me complaining about an actual congressional bill calling for a Mars colony. In a bizarre kind of “budget-hawkery,” […]
July 8, 2013
Energy
Ronald Binz Discusses Disruptive Forces Threatening American Utilities
We are in the midst of a systemic upheaval in how our electricity is produced and distributed, brought about by […]
June 28, 2013
Energy
Business Opportunities within Obama's Climate Change Commitment
On a hot, 93 degree Tuesday afternoon at Georgetown University in Washington DC, President Barack Obama unveiled the nation’s first […]
June 26, 2013
Energy
Report: Liberals and Conservatives Can at Least Agree on Energy Savings
Isn’t it wonderful when we can transcend politics and finally agree on something? A new Opower report shows that Liberals […]
June 21, 2013
Energy
IKEA Surges to Second-Largest Private Producer of Solar Energy in U.S.
What business do retail chains like IKEA have getting into the world of electricity generation? Years ago, the answer would […]
June 20, 2013
Finance
When Does Internship Become Labor Exploitation?
As the “intern economy” grows, young adults, unions, and other workers are starting to ask: When does an internship stop […]
June 13, 2013
Energy
Great Lakes Governors Work to Protect $7B Fishing Industry from Asian Carp
It was a marvel of civil engineering, but today there’s growing support for undoing some of the damage caused by […]
June 6, 2013
Finance
Failing Infrastructure Could Cost U.S. Businesses $1.2 Trillion by 2020
“We’re all paying for a first-rate infrastructure but we’re getting a third world infrastructure.” Speaking as one of six panelists […]
June 3, 2013
Energy
Wall Street Gives Cash and Clout to Rapidly Growing Solar Market
If you’re a fan of renewable energy, the latest move by Goldman Sachs could be a welcome signal that the […]
May 29, 2013
Energy
Climate Change Means Shallower Great Lakes and More Expensive Goods
Great Lakes water levels are at historic lows, 26 inches below their long term averages, raising prices right at the […]
May 22, 2013