KKR started up a pilot project in conjunction with the Environmental Defence fund in 2008 in order to discover ways in which they could reduce the environmental footprint of three portfolio companies and also reduce operating costs.
Last year there were eight additions to this list, and just last week, another four companies were unveiled as joining the Green portfolio program. Henry Kravis, one of the co founder’s of the company stated that the importance of environmental management for businesses is more important than ever, and that the scheme which they have been running, shows that increased environmental awareness does not have to mean an increase in costs. In fact, managed the right way, it can actually coincide with a reduction in costs.
There are several key figures in the makeup of KKR, and of course Henry Kravis is one of them. Equally influential these days is the Managing Director and head of global affairs, Ken Mehlman Mehlman was the campaign manager for the Bush administration during the 2004 election campaign, and after this successful piece of work, he went on to become the chairman of the Republican National Committee. Now completely dedicated to his role with KKR, Mehlman will continue to look for opportunities to take KKR in a direction suitable for today’s’ environmental situation.
2 Jun
