Everything Relative to Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co
Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co (KKR) was set up by Henry Kravis and George Roberts in 1976 with the help of the First Chicago Corporation. But in the pursuit of making the businesses they acquire more environmentally friendly and more profitable to boot, KKR have rolled out a remarkable proposal which has totally changed the way businesses and environmental groups work. KKR’s Henry Kravis and the the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) got together a year ago, hoping to make environmentally friendly business operation a widespread idea. Issues like depletion of the ozone layer and unconscionable consumption of water resources rank high on their agenda. Eco-efficiency (a phrase first coined by the WBCSD) delineates the framework for their mission, through applying techniques like increasing the durability of products, reducing the intensity of materials and recycling programs. Simple and effective, but the management didn’t see the entirety of the program’s benefits until the head of the project and global public affairs, Ken Mehlman, reviewed the program following its first year in operation. Ken Mehlman who practiced environmental law for Akin Gump Stauss Hauer & Feld from 1991 to 1996, has also served as field director for George W. Bush’s 2000 presidential campaign, was appointed to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council in 2007 and serves as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations Climate Change Task Force, the Senior Advisory Committee of the Harvard University Institute of Politics, and the executive leadership cabinet of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Foundation, learned that applying eco-efficiency wasn’t merely helping to preserve the environment, but additionally it was saving companies a substantial amount of money, making the program virtually an immediate hit. Well-nigh all of the companies held by Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co and Ken Mehlman today take part in the Green Portfolio Project. Considering that the group is valued at $86 billion, you can see what a feat this really was.
The initial program has now expanded to encompass new ventures. The Climate Corps Program administered by the Environmental Defense Fund is a good example of this, it campaigns for eco-efficient business principles to students studying for an MBA.
KKR and Ken Mehlman have taken the time to create a variety of analytical tools and other applicable products that quantify and oversee various resources. These systems let a business to assess their progress and discover any underlying issues. Henry Kravis, the KKR, and the Environmental Defense Fund are groundbreakers in the business community. These developments have simplified the procedure for businesses in any industry and established that running a profitable business need not entail the hefty price of negatively impacting our planet.
