The Story of Ken Mehlman of Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co & the Environmental Defense Fund
Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co (KKR) was launched in 1976 and back then the firm’s specialty was in leveraged buyouts. Recently they have put together a unique project that focuses not just on how profitable a company is, but additionally on the ecological impact of the companies they control. KKR’s Henry Kravis and the the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) merged last year, intending to make green business operation an acknowledged concept. Issues like toxic waste and inordinate water consumption are a priority in their corporate mission. Eco-efficiency (a phrase first endorsed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development) is the technique leveraged to achieve these objectives, by using environmentally aware policies like reducing the intensity of materials, maximum use of renewable resources and optimizing data centers for efficiency. Regardless of the fact that the program was a tremendous success, people simply did not understand how far reaching the effects were until Ken Mehlman, the head of the program and global public affairs, examined the first year’s figures. Surpassing everybody’s expectations, Ken discovered that eco-efficiency not only cut down on ecological impact, but also increased the profits from every last company too. To date, Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co and Ken Mehlman have succeeded in getting almost every associated business actively engaged in eco-efficiency principles. Still, with a 2009 portfolio worth 86,000,000,000 dollars, you may be sure this was no easy see what a huge achievement this is.
The initial program has now broadened to encompass new ventures. The Climate Corps Program established by the Environmental Defense Fund is an example of this, it advances planet friendly business techniques to MBA interns. KKR and Ken Mehlman have taken the time to create metrics that will be able to oversee various resources. These metrics permit management see how ecologically friendly they are and discover any practices that may need improving.
Today’s business world has been completely transformed by the work of these people. Their innovative ideas have simplified the procedure for business organizations in any industry and established that making profits need not entail the hefty price of damaging the environment.
