October 19, 2009
Business and Ecology: Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co. And the Environmental Defense Fund
Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co (KKR) was founded in the mid-seventies and in the beginning the firm’s main business was in ‘bootstrap’ buyouts. But just last year they have set up a unique project that concentrates not merely on how much profit they can make, but additionally on the ecological impact of the companies they invest in. Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co’s Henry Kravis and the the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) joined forces a year ago, intending to make green business practice a commonplace idea. Big matters like hazardous waste and irresponsible water consumption are an important part of their company mission.
Eco-efficiency (a phrase originally popularized by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development) constitutes their mission’s framework, utilizing environmentally sound techniques like reducing the intensity of materials, recycling programs and waste reduction. Efficient though it was the KKR and EDF did not even understand the totality of the benefits of the project until Ken Mehlman, the executive responsible for the project, reviewed the figures from the project when it had been functioning for its first twelve months.
Much to everyone’s surprise, Ken discovered that this program not only reduced the impact on the environment, but also increased the the net profit from every company besides. Just about all of the firms connected with Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co and Ken Mehlman nowadays actively participate in the Green Portfolio Project. Considering that the group is valued at 86 billion dollars, you can see what a massive achievement this really is.
KKR with the Environmental Defense Fund along with Ken Mehlman are further developing the initial program. The Climate Corps Program administered by the EDF is an example of this, it campaigns for cost efficient, environmentally friendly principles to interns taking a Master’s degree in Business Administration.
Of Late, Ken Mehlman has worked closely with KKR to create products which a wide range of business organizations can utilize to measure and oversee a number of resources. These tools permit staff see how they are impacting on the environment and discover any areas which might need improving.
Henry Kravis, the KKC, and the Environmental Defense Fund have made reducing their ecological impact simpler for companies large and small. In summary, these systems have made green business techniques not only viable, but commercially desirable, and their novel ideas are setting a new standard in the business world of today.











