A History of Innovation
The story of Green Rhino starts with smart polymers. Back in 2004, a young entrepreneur called Ross Atkin was shown a ‘magic trick.’ A white powder added to a beaker of oily water instantly solidified the oil so that it could be removed. The water left in the beaker was clean.
You can watch this ‘magic trick’ below.
The white powder was smart polymer and Ross immediately realised the potential for pollution prevention.
By 2009, in collaboration with CI Agent Solutions in America, Ross was installing underground smart polymer membranes on transformer sites for customers including UK Power Networks (UKPN) and Western Power Distribution (WPD).
These turnkey solutions were effective and opened up a period rich with new ideas. Ross built a small team that focused on the development of smart polymer filters which could be ported to the side of a concrete or steel transformer bund. Rainwater could drain freely through the filter and any leaked transformer oil in the flow would be captured. This simple, low-cost and low-maintenance solution was written into the UKPN design standard for transformer bunds.
WPD had another pollution headache. They managed a network of telegraph pole storage sites which were prone to contamination by the wood preserver Creosote, a heady concoction of complex hydrocarbons. The team evolved the smart polymer filters into a plug-and-play site drainage system which was the precursor to today’s DrainEezy Filtration Systems. This could be connected into a site drainage system and the smart polymer filters could be easily swapped out when spent.
After designing a range of sediment and oil dewatering filters for UKPN in 2012, we had a growing range of off-the-shelf pollution prevention products. Ross formed Capture Green Limited and trademarked the brand name Green Rhino.
The development of the dewatering filters had opened up the construction market to Capture Green. At the time, the go-to spill containment products on construction sites were spill trays and nappy-style products. However, users were all too aware that this was a flawed approach. It only took a single drop of oil or fuel and any rainwater collected in the tray became contaminated waste. Not only that, the flooded trays were generally left to overflow.
After conversations with a number of tier one contractors, Capture Green developed EnviroPad, the first spill pad to use smart polymers. EnviroPad was a true evolution in spill containment and an immediate success.
Today, Green Rhino products are now used on five continents – including Antarctica. In the UK, products like EnviroPad and the EnviroHorn Drain Filter are considered best practice across the construction and utility sectors. Our DrainEezy Bund Filters are factory fitted by transformer manufacturers around the World.
You can read more about our pioneering work with smart polymers here.