Eco-Efficiency - Saving Money and the Ecology
Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co (KKR) was founded in the 1970’s and to begin with their specialization was in ‘bootstrap’ buyouts. Moving on, in a drive to make the businesses in their portfolio greener, they have set up an extraordinary green proposal that has totally transformed the method by which business concerns and environmental activists operate. When Henry Kravis from KKR and the New York based Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) got together a year ago environmental matters went mainstream. The coalition was forged to oppose big green issues, that include depletion of the ozone layer, soil contamination, overblown consumption of water resources, and toxic chemicals.
Eco-efficiency (a phrase first promoted by the WBCSD) is the formula deployed to achieve these aims, through employing green policies such as reducing the intensity of materials, maximum use of renewable resources and reducing the waste of resources. Successful though it was the management did not even realize the scope of the program’s benefits until Ken Mehlman, the executive in charge of the Green Portfolio Project, reviewed the program following a year in operation.
Capping everyone’s expectations, Ken discovered that the program not only enhanced environmental responsibility, but was also increasing the profitability of every last business organization too. To date, Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co and Ken Mehlman have almost each and every company in their portfolio involved in eco-efficiency. Seeing that this group of business organizations has a value of nearly $100 billion dollars, you can imagine what an enormous accomplishment this really is. The Green Portfolio project has evolved beyond its initial purpose and nowadays encompasses new initiatives. The Climate Corps Program established by the Environmental Defense Fund is an example of this, it promotes eco-efficient business techniques to MBA interns.
KKR and Ken Mehlman have been creating metrics and analytic tools that measure and manipulate resources. This type of info is important as companies can analyze all of their everyday activities and find out how any problems may be solved while simultaneously allowing them to see how ecologically friendly they are becoming. Today’s business community has been changed forever by the ground-breaking work of Henry Kravis, the KKC, and the Environmental Defense Fund. So, to summarize, these systems have made environmentally friendly business practice not only viable, but commercially desirable, and their revolutionary ideas are setting a new standard in the competitive business world of today.

