Impact and recognition
Measured savings, recognised by UNIDO, UNCTAD and industry
Rhino has built the UN Sustainable Development Goals into its values since 2013, and its energy-saving and waste-recovery technologies have been recognised by UNIDO, UNCTAD-Empretec, the Government of India and industry bodies. Its primary intent is SDG 12: using resources efficiently in industry.
Measured impact
What our technology saves
These figures come from Rhino’s own plant data and pilots. They are indicative and vary with each foundry.
| Technology | What is saved or recovered |
|---|---|
| EcoFlex sand plant | 30 to 50% less operating energy. About half the dust-control energy. 30% less civil work and 20% less maintenance. In a 400 tonne a month foundry, drives fall from 17 (117 HP) to 11 (100 HP). |
| MultiflexFM moulding | 30% energy saving in the machine, 50% in machining and 2% in material. Castings 2 to 5% lighter. Noise below 85 dB against over 110 dB. About 55% less power per mould than a compressed air flaskless line. |
| Sand reclamation | 75 to 85% of used sand recovered. About half the new sand bought. Sand cost down by up to 70%. Better finish and fewer rejections. Pilots in three foundries. |
| Silica Plastic Block | 100% waste as input: foundry dust, burnt sand and demolition waste with mixed plastic. No cement and no water in the process. Zero water absorption. |
Sustainable Development Goals
Alignment with the SDGs
Primary intent
SDG 12: responsible consumption and production
Using energy, sand, water and waste more efficiently is the core of Rhino’s work. Industry 4.0 and AI are the tools; industry sustainability is the purpose. Rhino maps SDG 12 targets 12.2, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6 and 12.7.
1No poverty
3Good health
4Quality education
5Gender equality
6Clean water
8Decent work
9Industry and innovation
10Reduced inequalities
11Sustainable cities
12Responsible consumption
13Climate action
14Life below water
15Life on land
16Strong institutions
17Partnerships
| Goal | Targets | How Rhino contributes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 No poverty | 1.1 | SPB gives rag-pickers and weaker sections a way to earn from waste; training gives underprivileged people skills. |
| 3 Good health | 3.9 | Less air, water and land pollution by recycling sand and waste that would otherwise be burnt, buried or leached. |
| 4 Quality education | 4.4 | Technical, vocational and entrepreneurial training with industry, through the Skills Development Institutes. |
| 5 Gender equality | 5.5 | Women included in collection, production, marketing, management and ownership in decentralised SPB production. |
| 6 Clean water | 6.3 | Less dumping of waste into water bodies. |
| 8 Decent work | 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 8.6, 8.8 | Jobs and incubation of entrepreneurs, formal manufacturing in rural clusters, more circular use of resources, youth in gainful work, local jobs that reduce migration. |
| 9 Industry and innovation | 9.5 | Research on turning waste into useful products, with academic institutions. |
| 10 Reduced inequalities | 10.1, 10.2 | Decent work in under-developed regions, with local manufacturing from local waste. |
| 11 Sustainable cities | 11.6 | Solid discards of plastic and industry dust brought back into use. |
| 12 Responsible consumption | 12.2, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6, 12.7 | Recycled sand and waste, longer life for wasted resources, community participation, data for corporate sustainability reports, sustainable products in public procurement. |
| 13 Climate action | 13.1, 13.2, 13.3 | Less landfill and plastic burning; technology at cluster or village level; experience and training centres. |
| 14 and 15 Water and land | 14.1, 15.2 | Less dust, sand and plastic dumped into rivers and fertile land. |
| 16 Strong institutions | 16.6 | Multi-stakeholder arrangements with transparency and accountability. |
| 17 Partnerships | 17.1, 17.6, 17.7 | Local resources and production, and technology sharing with UN agencies. |
Each machine will also carry an SDG impact score, shown as a chart by SDG with a downloadable note. SPB is first: it scores 38 of a possible 51, see the chart by goal. Sand reclamation is next.
Recognition
Awards and certifications
| Year | Recognition | Given by |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Best Technology Display Award, 3rd prize | IFEX 2010 |
| 2015 | One of 20 chosen from over 160 applicants for the cohort, then one of 6 shortlisted for the final pitch in October 2015, in energy efficiency for foundries (EcoFlex sand plant) | Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP), UNIDO with the Ministry of MSME |
| 2016 | One of 20 chosen for the cohort, then one of 6 shortlisted for the final pitch, India Cleantech Innovation Programme (MultiflexFM); certificate of recognition, October 2016, Delhi | GCIP, UNIDO with the Ministry of MSME |
| 2016 | Energy Efficient Sand Plant recognition | Institute of Indian Foundrymen, Vadodara Chapter |
| 2016 | Trend Setter Award for energy efficiency | Gujarat Innovation Society |
| 2016 | One of four SMEs showcased at the Festival of Innovation; EcoFlex appreciated by the Minister for Industries and the MSME ministry | Rashtrapati Bhavan, India |
| 2017 | Chandran Menon Memorial Award for innovation and research | Institute of Indian Foundrymen, IFEX 2017 |
| 2017 | Manish Kothari honoured as Young and Dynamic Entrepreneur | Institute of Indian Foundrymen, IFEX 2017 |
| 2017 | Featured among the Top 100 SMEs in Gujarat | Book released 28 February 2017 |
| 2018 onwards | Rhino subscribes to the UNCTAD Empretec initiative in India and becomes part of the HiEERA programme (High Impact Entrepreneurs from Emerging Regions for Action), and starts capacity building for its team; Manish Kothari completes the International Empretec Training Workshop ETW14 in November 2018 | Empretec India Foundation (UNCTAD Empretec) |
| 8 June 2018 | Manish Kothari presents the paper “Why Choose Swiss Style Apprenticeship Training: An Indian Institute’s Perspective” for the Anwesha Composite Education Foundation (ACEF, an NSDC-registered SkillSonics Training Centre), with Rhino as its industry partner, in Technical Workshop 6 at the 3rd International VPET Congress, Winterthur, Switzerland | International Congress on VPET (vocational and professional education and training) |
| 3 August 2020 | SPB technology approved as an Efficient Solution (Solution ID 11211; credibility, scalability, environment, client incentive and seller profitability all assessed positively by three independent experts) (read the assessment report) | Solar Impulse Foundation |
| 26 March 2022 – August 2025 | SPB objects (Silica Plastic Block, Lego Brick and Zig-Zag Paver, 2020) donated by Rhino Machines to the Vitra Design Museum collection (MDO-2444 to MDO-2447) and on display at every venue of the travelling exhibition “Plastic: Remaking Our World”: Vitra Design Museum, Weil am Rhein, Germany (26 March – 4 September 2022); V&A Dundee (29 October 2022 – 5 February 2023); maat, Lisbon (March – September 2023); National Museum of Singapore (27 January – 23 June 2024); and Hyundai Motorstudio Busan, South Korea (28 August 2024 – August 2025, extended from May 2025) | Vitra Design Museum, with V&A Dundee, maat, the National Museum of Singapore and Hyundai Motorstudio Busan |
| 2024 | Top Transparency Practicing Business, 2024 (certificate 7 November 2024), and Transparent Workspace 2024, recognised | GreenSignature |
| 2024 | Manish Kothari, Certified DEI Advocate (certificate 5 December 2024) | GreenSignature |
| 2024 | Best Initiative in Plastic Recycling and Waste Management as an SME/MSME (SPB) | Indian Sanitation Coalition (FICCI), 2024 |
| 2025 | ZED Gold certificate, issued 16 April 2025, valid three years | Ministry of MSME, Government of India, under the MSME Sustainable (ZED) Certification Scheme |
| 2026 | Rhino completes 30 years. Founder shares start to be made available to employees, alongside a conscious succession plan and a business continuity plan, built on the foundation of the HiEERA capacity building programme | Rhino Machines |
Rhino is ZED Gold certified (April 2025) and MSME registered. It has also received a Certificate of Honor from the Vitthal Udyognagar Industries Association.
