Last week, word came out that Apple was removing its desktops, laptops and monitors from a green-electronics registry called EPEAT. The ensuing uproar caused it to reverse course in just seven days. But what was Apple thinking?
Many companies and products claim to be green. But what does that actually mean? In some cases, labels can be misleading. As "greenwashing" increases, so does the need for greater consumer awareness.
Investors choose socially responsible ETFs because they want their portfolios to support their values. But do all of these funds really justify their label? For example, some include stocks like Transocean and Haliburton, of Gulf oil spill fame.
The New York Times recently looked at the plight of Cortney Munna, a graduate of New York University struggling with nearly $100,000 in student loans, and asked: Should schools abet students in the process of financial self destruction, or should they follow a higher purpose?