:Where Worklife Matters

When Henry Kravis and his partner George Roberts launched Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co (KKR) in the mid 70’s with help from the First Chicago Corporation, the company’s specialty was in bootstrap buyouts. But aiming to make the companies they acquire greener and more profitable to boot, they have set up an unusual green enterprise that has completely changed the way business concerns and environmental activists work. Green business processes went mainstream in 2008 when KKR’s Henry Kravis and the independent Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) joined forces. The coalition aims to campaign against many all important green issues, which include hazardous chemical use, resource depletion, absurd consumption of water resources, and toxic waste.

Eco-efficiency (the phrase was initially submitted by the WBCSD) is the technique deployed to achieve these aims, employing policies such as reducing the dispersion of toxic chemicals, improving fuel economy through vehicle fleet maintenance and waste reduction. Although the project was a tremendous success, people simply didn’t realize how important the results actually were until Ken Mehlman, the man responsible for the program, finished the first annual review.

Much to everybody’s surprise, Ken found that utilizing eco-efficiency not only served in preserving the local environment, but also increased the the profit from all their business concerns besides. Nearly all of the businesses held by Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co and Ken Mehlman at present are taking part in eco-efficiency principles. All The Same, when you consider that the group has a current portfolio worth eighty six billion dollars, you may be sure that this was not a simple achievement. Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co and the EDF along with Ken Mehlman have also expanded the initial project. The Climate Corps Program administered by the Environmental Defense Fund is just one of these, it raises awareness of planet friendly business techniques to interns studying for an MBA.

KKR and Ken Mehlman have made the effort to create metrics which have the ability to administer various resources. Products such as these allow staff see how they are progressing and identify any problem areas.

Henry Kravis, the KKC, and the Environmental Defense Fund have encouraged all sorts of businesses to cut down their environmental impact. These developments have set a high standard for business organizations in any industry and established that running a profitable business need not entail the hefty price of damaging the environment.