Protecting the Planet — with Ken Mehlman of Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co. Making it Simpler for Everyone
Initially, when Henry Kravis and his business partner George Roberts established Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co (KKR) in 1976 with some help from the First Chicago Corporation, the company’s focus was in bootstrap buyouts. Recently they have launched an extraordinary proposal which concentrates not solely on maximum profit margins, but likewise on the ecological impact of the companies they acquire.
Environmentally sound business procedures became major topic of dicussion in 2008 when Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co’s Henry Kravis and the non-profit Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) joined forces. The coalition aims to help resolve all important matters hurting the ecology of the planet, which include toxic chemicals, toxic waste, intemperate water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Eco-efficiency (the phrase was initially coined by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development) is the methodology used to achieve these targets, by using green techniques such as using clean energy, reducing the intensity of materials and fuel economy. Regardless of the fact that the project was an enormous success, no-one realized how extensive the consequences truly were until Ken Mehlman, the head of the program and global public affairs, carried out the review of the first twelve months.
Only at that point did Ken Mehlman learn that utilizing eco-efficiency was not just helping to protect the local environment, but in addition it was saving a wide range of businesses a great deal of money. Just about all of the commercial concerns affiliated to Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co and Ken Mehlman today actively participate in the Green Portfolio Project. When you think about the fact that this portfolio of businesses has a net worth of 86 billion dollars, you may see what a tremendous accomplishment this is.
KKR with the Environmental Defense Fund in association with Ken Mehlman are extending the original program. For instance, KKR joined the EDF’s Climate Corps Program a venture which instructs MBA interns how to formulate and start cost-efficient, ecologically friendly practices.
In recent months, Ken Mehlman has been in close collaboration with KKR to formulate metrics that all sorts of business concerns can utilize to evaluate resources. These tools permit staff to assess their progress and discover any underlying issues.
The business world has been totally transformed by the efforts of these individuals. These developments have set a high standard for businesses in any sector and demonstrated that running a profitable business need not entail the hefty price of negatively impacting our planet.











