| Henry Kravis of Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co. And the Environmental Defense Fund: Innovators in Business and Ecology |
| 02.10.10 | |
Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co (KKR) was founded in the 1970’s and orginally the company’s specialization was in leveraged buyouts. Lately, however, in a drive to make the companies in their portfolio more environmentally aware, KKR have rolled out a remarkable project which has totally transformed the method by which business concerns and environmental groups operate.
When Henry Kravis from KKR and the independent Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) joined forces in 2008 environmental matters in the business world became major topic. Issues like deforestation and imprudent consumption of water resources are high on their agenda. In order to attain this, they use a procedure termed eco-efficiency which uses techniques like reducing the intensity of materials, recycling programs, and reducing the dispersion of toxic chemicals. Even though the program was a colossal success, managment just didn’t understand how extensive the effects were until Ken Mehlman, the head of the program and global public affairs, finished the first annual review. Much to everyone’s surprise, Ken learned that the program not only enhanced environmental responsibility, but also increased the profits from all their business concerns too. To date, Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co and Ken Mehlman have virtually all of their companies involved in eco-efficiency principles. And, when you consider that the group has a current portfolio worth eighty-six billion dollars, you may be certain that this was not a simple achievement.
The original project now includes new and groundbreaking initiatives. The Climate Corps Program administered by the EDF is an example of this, it promotes eco-efficient principles to MBA interns. In recent months, Ken Mehlman has been working closely with KKR to produce products which companies can use to evaluate and oversee a number of resources. These products allow employees to track their progress and identify any problem areas. The business world has been entirely transformed by the efforts of Henry Kravis, the KKC, and the Environmental Defense Fund. Their revolutionary developments have simplified the procedure for business organizations in every sector and shown that making profits need not entail the hefty price of damaging the environment.
