Rehabilitating the Anthropocene

Abstract

The issues of environmental challenges, increasing per capita demand and decreasing finite stocks are triggering the demand for greener alternatives in resource production and consumption. The phenomena of bioeconomy comprehends the sustainable conversion and production of biomass for energy, health and industrial products. A vital component of bioeconomy, is the concept of the biorefinery, which has the potential to rep¬lace conventional petroleum refineries in order to produce energy and material products with 2nd generation biomass feedstock. In the search for renewable production landscapes, the current situation of pollution and contamination cannot be neglected. Tis paper investigates the situation and possibilities for the industrial site of Shell-Pernis in the Port of Rotterdam. The soils of Shell-Pernis are highly contaminated with Mineral oils, heavy metals (e.g. Zn, Cu, Cd, Hg, etc), and PAHs. In order to clean these soils and provide feedstock for a proposed biorefinery, a set of 25 different plant species is contrived, which form building blocks for ecological interventions to transform a deteriorated, fossil-based industrial site into an accessible bio-industrial park. These interventions follow the rule of multiple functions, as all plants provide various ecosystem services such as production of biofuels, bioremediation, attracting wildlife, fixating nitrogen, preventing erosion and other additional benefits. Hence, the interventions have the potential to make a polluted industrial area safer and healthier, and provide a pleasant stay for the public. This research and design project shows how Shell-Pernis has the potential to become a flagship site of the green industry where bio-economic and rehabilitating activities are shown to the outer world in order to educate and stimulate sustainable growth.