The potential threats to the environment in the 21st century are increasing exponentially over time. Today, various types of work across different industries can potentially contaminate or pollute the environment with hazardous materials. Organizations responsible for these incidents, therefore, need environmental remediation specialists to address the issue. The process of environmental remediation typically involves the removal of contaminants from soil, groundwater, surface water, sediments, etc.
While several new players are emerging in the environmental remediation market over the past few years, companies such as REGENESIS have been providing leading-edge environmental remediation solutions since 1994. The company is a global leader in the research, development, and commercialization of technology-based solutions for the environment. It specializes in providing scientifically proven product and service-based solutions for groundwater and soil remediation at contaminated sites.
The groundwater and soil remediation projects require the utmost experience and expertise. Sometimes, even the best solutions prove ineffective if they are not applied correctly. With over 100 years of collective industry experience, REGENESIS’s in-house technical team helps deliver the best site remediation results using the right combination of expertise, products, and application methods. The team is led and managed by Scott Wilson (President and CEO at REGENESIS).
A Recognized Thought Leader
Mr. Wilson is a widely published expert with extensive experience in applied microbiology and bioremediation processes. He is a decorated leader in the commercialization of environmental technologies with a proven track record spanning three decades. In his eminent career, Mr. Wilson has overseen the design and implementation of more than 100 innovative full-scale remediation projects employing advanced technologies.
In his childhood, Mr. Wilson witnessed a couple of instances that inspired him to become environmentally active. His parents were members of the National Wildlife Federation and which had a kid-themed magazine called Ranger Rick. As an eight-year-old, he was shocked reading the story of Ranger Rick and his friends meeting at the swimming hole and finding it polluted when they went back to it for their first swim of the summer.
Around the same time, there was an award-winning commercial with a Native American paddling his canoe through a polluted river surrounded by smog, pollution, and trash. As the man is paddling through, the camera pans to a close-up of a single tear rolling down his cheek. This also impacted him and propelled his interest towards environment. “These early messages in the media and at home inspired me to become environmentally active,” asserts Mr. Wilson.
Surmounting Environmental Challenges
Since its inception, REGENESIS has strived to develop innovative technologies that allow the earth to be restored, using passive, sustainable solutions such as stimulating natural bacteria. As a science-based technology company, it tackles a host of environmental challenges such as treating toxic chemicals in groundwater to protect drinking water wellfields, rivers, and streams. Mr. Wilson believes that like pharmaceutical science where a patient may need a prescription to heal the body, the contaminated aquifers also require a prescriptive treatment to be restored.
REGENESIS also provides solutions to address vapor intrusion. Its vapor barrier systems are effective in protecting residents in new apartment complexes built on top of former brownfield sites, as an example, or in historic buildings where indoor air quality may be compromised by vapor intrusion.
An Inherently Sustainable Business
“When you think about sustainability, what is often lost in the conversation is the idea of being good stewards of what you already have,” says Mr. Wilson. The U.S. is especially gifted with an abundant groundwater supply. It is the primary source of drinking water and has played an integral role in building up the country and feeding the world. However, this precious resource has been neglected over the last century. Industrialization and toxic chemical releases have threatened most of the country’s groundwater resources.
The science-based solutions offered by REGENESIS work to remediate this damage. As a company that cleans contaminated groundwater, REGENESIS is inherently sustainable. The company helps to restore blighted, industrial land into beautiful mixed-use developments to revitalize a city’s downtown and avoid urban sprawl—which further reflects its emphasis on sustainability. “At our core, we are in the business of sustainability,” adds Mr. Wilson.
The In Situ Treatment Approach
REGENESIS develops technologies to promote the most efficient and cost-effective solution to the problem. For instance, it has developed a technology named PlumeStop—an in-ground filtration technology that removes contaminants from groundwater. It is a liquid form of carbon that can be installed as a barrier between the source of contaminants and the drinking water supply. The barrier allows the groundwater to flow but captures the contaminants onto the carbon. It is a natural, passive, in-ground water filtration system.
On the other hand, the alternative methods for treating contaminants involve mechanical systems that extract the groundwater and filter it above the ground. Pumping takes a tremendous amount of energy powered by fossil fuels. These systems often pump millions of gallons per year to remove a few grams of contaminants. Most of them run continuously for decades—contributing to tons of greenhouse gas emissions. REGENESIS’s revolutionary in situ treatment approach generates zero emissions and therefore addresses the climate change issue head-on without all the infrastructure and maintenance.
“Profitability Through Sustainability”
Mr. Wilson believes that environmental stewardship and capitalism are not diametrically opposed. In fact, that is quite the opposite. For instance, there was a waste minimalization movement in industrial manufacturing in the late 80s and early 90s. The companies that participated in the movement found that by minimalizing the waste, they also saved money and reduced liability. Soon, waste minimalization became an essential practice companies employed to remain competitive.
In response to the tremendous demand for its PlumeStop amendment, REGENESIS recently needed to expand into new manufacturing and warehouse space. The company looked into constructing a new, green LEED-certified building. However, after assessing the carbon footprint, it decided to repurpose an existing building. While searching for a brownfield site the company found an abandoned wire factory in Tennessee. After retrofitting the site, manufacturing operations have moved to increase the company’s capacity and allow for improved delivery, while reducing its carbon footprint. .
“In our new location and from this shipping point, we can reach two-thirds of the US population within two days,” asserts Mr. Wilson.
According to him, this simple environmental stewardship act to adopt an abandoned 70,000 square foot building will reduce the carbon footprint and increase profitability for REGENESIS as well as its customers. He further mentions that the company’s primary focus is on innovating and deploying sustainable technologies that remediate the part of environment that have been damaged. “We have been in business for more than 25 years and have grown year after year, while most of the economy has see-sawed. Clearly, the public demands environmentally conscious businesses and business practices,” concludes Mr. Wilson.
Quote:
“If you can effectively solve the environmental challenges and your solutions are built on sustainable, environmentally conscious practices, you will be profitable.”
“The world is full of many problems to talk about. Science-based solutions are needed.”
Read full issue: The 10 Sustainable Green Tech Companies, 2021
