Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co. And the Environmental Defense Fund — Innovators in Green Business
Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co (KKR) was founded by Henry Kravis and George Roberts in the 1970’s with support from the First Chicago Corporation. But they have set up a groundbreaking proposal which concentrates not solely on maximum ROI, but also on how ecologically aware each of their companies are. Environmentally friendly business practices became a hot topic last year when KKR’s Henry Kravis and the non-profit Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) got together. Large green issues like hazardous waste and exaggerated consumption of water resources rank high on their agenda. Eco-efficiency (the phrase was initially promoted by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development) is the methodology leveraged to achieve these aims, by using green policies like reducing the waste of resources, recycling programs and using clean energy. The project was initially well received, but the KKR and EDF did not grasp the full project’s benefits until the head of the program and global public affairs, Ken Mehlman, studied the program following a year in operation. Ken who practiced environmental law for Akin Gump Stauss Hauer & Feld from 1991 to 1996, has also served as Chief of Staff for Texas 12th Congressional District Representative Kay Granger, became Managing Director and Head of Global Public Affairs at Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co, LLP in 2008 and serves as a member of the board of directors at the National Endowment for Democracy, and the Council on Foreign Relations Climate Change Task Force, observed that eco-efficiency wasn’t just reducing their environmental impact, but it was also saving a tremendous range of businesses a considerable amount of money, and so the Green Portfolio project became virtually an immediate success. Just about all of the firms connected with KKR and Ken Mehlman nowadays are actively involved in eco-efficiency principles. When you think about the fact that the group is valued at nearly $100 billion USD, you may see what a huge feat this really is.
Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co with the Environmental Defense Fund along with Ken Mehlman are further developing the original program. For example, Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co linked up with the Environmental Defense Fund’s Climate Corps Program which teaches MBA students how to introduce cost effective, earth friendly principles.
KKR and Ken Mehlman have been formulating metrics and analytic tools which administer various resources. These systems permit a business to evaluate their progress and identify any underlying issues. The business community has been altered permanently by the efforts of Henry Kravis, the KKC, and the Environmental Defense Fund. Their developments have simplified the process for firms in every industry and shown the world that running a profitable business need not entail the hefty price of damaging the environment.
