Protecting the Planet - with Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co. Setting the Standard
In the beginning, when Henry Kravis and George Roberts founded Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co (KKR) in the 1970’s with the assistance of the First Chicago Corporation, their focus was in highly leveraged transactions. Moving on, in a drive to make their portfolio companies and acquisitions have less of a negative environmental impact, KKR have set in motion a groundbreaking green proposal which has changed the way businesses and environmental agencies function.
KKR’s Henry Kravis and the New York based Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) joined forces last year, with the mission of making environmentally sound business operation an acknowledged idea. Issues like climate change and intemperate consumption of water resources feature high on their agenda.
To achieve this, they utilize eco-efficiency which involves concepts like reducing the waste of resources, fuel economy, and waste reduction. Irrespective of the fact that the program was an enormous success, no-one realized how significant the consequences really were until Ken Mehlman, the head of the project and global public affairs, examined the profits for the first 12 months. Ken found out that applying eco-efficiency wasn’t solely preserving the local environment, but additionally it was helping to save businesses a great deal of money, making the program virtually an immediate success. Virtually all of the commercial concerns affiliated to Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co and Ken Mehlman now are taking part in eco-efficiency principles. When you consider that the whole portfolio is valued at almost one hundred billion dollars, you may see what an enormous achievement this is. The initial program has developed beyond its primary purpose and now includes new initiatives. To illustrate, KKR joined the EDF’s Climate Corps Program an organization which teaches students taking an MBA how to develop and introduce financially strong, green principles. KKR and Ken Mehlman have been developing systems which oversee resources. These tools can assess a company’s progress and identify any practices which might need work.
The business world has been changed by the work of Henry Kravis, the KKC, and the Environmental Defense Fund. In summary, these systems have made ecologically friendly business techniques not only viable, but commercially desirable, and their revolutionary ideas are setting a new standard in today’s community.
