Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co (KKR) was set up by Henry Kravis and his partner George Roberts in the 70’s with the support of the First Chicago Corporation. Moving beyond, in an extraordinary attempt to make the businesses in their portfolio greener, they have founded a unique green project which has changed the method by which businesses and environmental activists work.
Environmentally friendly business procedures became a hot topic last year when KKR’s Henry Kravis and the the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) joined forces. Their objectives include encouraging firms to oppose environmental menaces e.g. climate change and reckless water consumption. In order to accomplish these goals, they utilize a method called eco-efficiency, this calls for techniques such as using clean energy, reducing the waste of resources, and increasing the durability of products. Although the project was an enormous success, no-one understood how incredible the results truly were until Ken Mehlman, the executive responsible for the program, looked over the figures for the first year.
Only then did Ken find out that using eco-efficiency was not merely helping to maintain the environment, but it was also helping to save a colossal range of businesses a large amount of money, making the program virtually an immediate success. Virtually all of the companies held by Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co and Ken Mehlman today apply eco-efficiency. And, when you consider that the group has a 2009 portfolio estimated at 86 billion dollars, you can be sure that this wasn’t a simple see what an enormous accomplishment this is. The original Green Portfolio project has developed far beyond its primary remit and now encompasses new and groundbreaking enterprises. The Climate Corps Program administered by the EDF is just one of these initiatives, it heightens awareness of financially shrewd, earth friendly principles to MBA interns.
KKR and Ken Mehlman have been developing a series of systems which measure and administer resources. These products permit employees see how they are progressing and discover any underlying issues. Henry Kravis, the KKC, and the Environmental Defense Fund have encouraged all sorts of businesses to reduce their ecological impact. Their developments have made cutting back their ecological impact less complicated for organizations in every industry and demonstrated that running a profitable business need not entail the hefty price of damaging the environment.
