The Story of Henry Kravis of Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co and the Environmental Defense Fund
Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co (KKR) was established in the 70’s and to begin with the firm’s main business was in ‘bootstrap’ buyouts. But going further, hoping to make their acquisitions have less of a negative ecological impact, they have set up a unique green proposal that has entirely changed the way businesses and environmental activists operate.
Environmentally friendly business processes became major topic last year when Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co’s Henry Kravis and the non-profit Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) got together. Their objectives include encouraging companies in fighting against operations which may endanger the environment like hazardous emissions as well as outrageous consumption of water resources. To accomplish this, they utilize eco-efficiency, this involves concepts such as reducing the intensity of materials, maximum use of renewable resources, and waste reduction. Simple and effective, but the companies involved did not realize the totality of the program’s advantages until Ken Mehlman, the head of the program and global public affairs, studied the program after a full year in operation.
Beating everyone’s expectations, Ken saw that practicing eco-efficiency not only decreased the overall impact on the planet, but also increased the the net profit from all their business concerns too. Up to now, Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co and Ken Mehlman have managed to get well-nigh every associated organization taking part in eco-efficiency techniques. When you consider that the total portfolio has a value of almost one hundred billion USD, you can see what an enormous achievement this is.
The original project has grown far beyond its original purpose and currently includes new opportunities. For example, Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co joined the Environmental Defense Fund’s Climate Corps Program which instructs MBA interns how to formulate and start cost-effective, planet friendly principles.
In recent months, Ken Mehlman has been working closely with Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co to develop metrics and analytic tools that companies can employ to quantify and oversee a number of resources. These tools can assess a company’s ecological impact and discover any underlying problems.
Today’s business world has been changed by the ecologically centered work of these people. So, to summarize, the work of these organizations has made green business practice not only viable, but commercially desirable, and their revolutionary ideas are setting a new standard in today’s business community.
