Sustainability and Environmental Law
When Law Meets Logistics
Highlights from Chris Perzan’s Talk on Sustainability and Environmental Law
Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Location: Schreiber Center, 16 E. Pearson St., Room 908
On November 19, Loyola’s Supply Chain & Sustainability Center welcomed Chris Perzan, President of Kyndenos LLC, for a fascinating look at how fast rapidly sustainability and Environmental law are Sustainability and Environmental law is changing—and what it all means for businesses trying to keep up.
Perzan, who’s spent years working at the intersection of law, industry, and sustainability, walked through the major regulatory shakeups that are shaping 2025 and beyond. His message was clear: the legal landscape surrounding climate and corporate sustainability is shifting rapidly, and companies must remain vigilant.
Federal Shakeups
Perzan kicked things off by explaining the EPA’s proposed rollback of the Endangerment Finding—a landmark rule from 2009 that declared greenhouse gases a threat to public health. The proposal, along with plans to repeal power-plant emission standards, could completely change how the U.S. approaches climate regulation.
He noted that these moves aren’t just about policy—they affect how companies set goals, report progress, and even market themselves. “If the foundation changes,” he said, “everything built on it starts to wobble.”
The Legal Puzzle: U.S. v. Michigan
One of the most talked-about topics was U.S. v. Michigan. In this new federal case, the U.S. government is suing Michigan for exploring climate-related lawsuits against fossil-fuel companies. Perzan called it a “showdown of philosophies” — federal authority on one side, state ambition on the other.
It’s a big question, he said: can a state hold companies accountable for climate costs if the federal government says it’s overstepping? The decision could reshape the extent of power states have to push their own climate agendas—and the level of exposure businesses could face in the future.
What It Means for Business
Perzan emphasized that uncertainty shouldn’t lead to paralysis. Instead, he encouraged organizations to double-check their sustainability claims, maintain clean data, and remain flexible. With lawsuits and new disclosure rules popping up in different states, companies that stay proactive (and transparent) will weather the changes best.
Shoutout
A big thank you to Rob Liss from Maka Logistics, who provided the food and drink for everyone to enjoy.
Meet the speaker
Christopher Perzan
Chris Perzan is an attorney in Chicago with a deep background in environmental law and corporate sustainability. He currently has is own firm, Kyndenos LLC, in Chicago, dedicated to environmental and sustainability law. He was previously Vice President, Environment & Sustainability and Chief Environmental Counsel at Navistar, Inc., now known as International Motors LLC, a manufacturer of trucks, buses, engines and EVs, and part of TRATON Group, the commercial vehicle arm of Volkswagen Group. In this role, he was part of the sustainability governance board in TRATON Group and was responsible for sustainability initiatives, greenhouse gas footprint calculation, circular business initiatives and environmental compliance, among other things. Prior to joining Navistar, he was an Assistant Attorney General in the Illinois Attorney General's Office and an attorney at Illinois EPA. He is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis School of Law and Knox College.
Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Location: Schreiber Center, 16 E. Pearson St., Room 908
On November 19, Loyola’s Supply Chain & Sustainability Center welcomed Chris Perzan, President of Kyndenos LLC, for a fascinating look at how fast rapidly sustainability and Environmental law are Sustainability and Environmental law is changing—and what it all means for businesses trying to keep up.
Perzan, who’s spent years working at the intersection of law, industry, and sustainability, walked through the major regulatory shakeups that are shaping 2025 and beyond. His message was clear: the legal landscape surrounding climate and corporate sustainability is shifting rapidly, and companies must remain vigilant.
Federal Shakeups
Perzan kicked things off by explaining the EPA’s proposed rollback of the Endangerment Finding—a landmark rule from 2009 that declared greenhouse gases a threat to public health. The proposal, along with plans to repeal power-plant emission standards, could completely change how the U.S. approaches climate regulation.
He noted that these moves aren’t just about policy—they affect how companies set goals, report progress, and even market themselves. “If the foundation changes,” he said, “everything built on it starts to wobble.”
The Legal Puzzle: U.S. v. Michigan
One of the most talked-about topics was U.S. v. Michigan. In this new federal case, the U.S. government is suing Michigan for exploring climate-related lawsuits against fossil-fuel companies. Perzan called it a “showdown of philosophies” — federal authority on one side, state ambition on the other.
It’s a big question, he said: can a state hold companies accountable for climate costs if the federal government says it’s overstepping? The decision could reshape the extent of power states have to push their own climate agendas—and the level of exposure businesses could face in the future.
What It Means for Business
Perzan emphasized that uncertainty shouldn’t lead to paralysis. Instead, he encouraged organizations to double-check their sustainability claims, maintain clean data, and remain flexible. With lawsuits and new disclosure rules popping up in different states, companies that stay proactive (and transparent) will weather the changes best.
Shoutout
A big thank you to Rob Liss from Maka Logistics, who provided the food and drink for everyone to enjoy.