Thomas Lyon

Thomas P. Lyon is the Dow Professor of Sustainable Science, Technology and Commerce at the University of Michigan, with joint appointments in the Ross School of Business and the School of Environment and Sustainability (SEAS). He serves as Director of the Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise and President of the Alliance for Research on Corporate Sustainability (ARCS).

• BSE, Princeton University (Civil Engineering)
• MS & PhD, Stanford University (Engineering and Economic Systems)

His research focuses on corporate environmental strategy, greenwashing dynamics, regulatory compliance, and the intersection of business and climate policy. Key projects include analyzing corporate political responsibility (CPR), ecolabel competition, and sustainability disclosure mechanisms.

Recent publications examine greenwashing typologies, corporate lobbying transparency, and systemic sustainability transitions. The 2023 World Sustainability Award recognized his contributions to corporate political responsibility frameworks and policy advocacy.

• Advisory roles for EPA, OECD, and Department of Energy
• Testified before Congress on energy and infrastructure
• Expert witness for legal cases on environmental compliance

He leads the Greenwash Action Lab and contributes to journals like Organization & Environment and Journal of Environmental Economics and Management.