The project “Plants for Plants – Every industrial plant needs a plantation” is about nature’s ability to restore the natural balance in polluted soil and regain lost territories.

The comfortable distance to Asian industry prevents us from perceiving how hazardous pollution from industrial plants affect the environment and creates health risks. Since manufacturing has been outsourced to Asian countries, it is easier to be unaware of the impact of our consumption on the environment.

When the polar silk road approaches Kirkenes from China, with large amounts of goods, the impact of consumption will be displayed in real volume. This picture might have an effect on how we deal with increasing consumption and the environmental costs.

In Kirkenes’ pedestrian street, Rasmussen has filled a greenhouse with phytoremediating plants.

Phytoremediation is a method for restoring the natural balance in contaminated soil and groundwater by applied plant physiology. Specific plant species accumulate, store and degrade toxic substances from contaminated soil. Brassica species are hyperaccumulators, which means that the plant takes up and saves heavy metal contaminants. Because of its high uptake of copper, zinc and nickel, Brassica juncea is one of the most active phytoremediating species. In Asia, crops of Brassica juncea are planted, amongst other species, near industrial plants where water and watercourses are affected by contaminants. Systematic cultivation of crops, safe deposits and recycling placed around industrial plants prevents severe environmental damage. Every industrial plant needs plantations!

Thanks to:
Tone Roksvåg Aandal, NIBIO, Svanhovd, Leidulf Lund, Climate laboratorium, Holt, UIT, Barel and Pikene på Broen.