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OVMB (sister company of Herbosch-Kiere), C-biotech and C-ground are accelerating the removal of PFAS from the soil using hemp

OVMB (a subsidiary of Eiffage Construction BeLux and sister company of Herbosch-Kiere), C-biotech and C-ground, the phytoremediation and soil divisions of the Cordeel Group, are joining forces for an innovative soil remediation project. In a fully enclosed and controlled greenhouse at the Port of Ghent, the partners are investigating how industrial hemp, supplemented with soil additives, can accelerate the removal of PFAS from the soil without destroying it. The project is a European first and could potentially offer a sustainable and cost-effective solution to the widespread soil contamination caused by these “forever chemicals.” If the approach proves successful, the partners intend to scale up the technique to remediate soils ex situ on a larger scale.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are persistent, hard-to-degrade chemical compounds – so-called “forever chemicals” – that contaminate soils and water worldwide and have been linked to the development of diseases such as cancer, obesity, and endometriosis. Belgium is also a true hotspot for PFAS, according to a recently published report commissioned by the European Commission: 100% of the Belgian population lives in a risk area, with 20% even in a high-risk area. This places the country first in Europe. The costs of remediation, as well as the healthcare costs resulting from the pollution, could amount to at least €330 billion – in the best-case scenario.

Phytoremediation with a view to full reuse

Traditional remediation methods consist of excavation and soil washing, but these only remove the contamination partially, leaving behind large quantities of unusable soil that ultimately end up in landfill – a typical end-of-pipe solution. With this phytoremediation pilot project (in which plants and micro-organisms are used to naturally remove pollutants from the environment), C-biotech, C-ground and OVMB aim to demonstrate that there is another way: through an ex situ approach, the contaminated soil is treated, restored and enhanced on site, with full reuse as the ultimate goal – and at a faster pace than would occur in nature.

For the pilot project, the partners developed a sustainably deployable 100 m² greenhouse equipped with controlled irrigation, temperature and lighting conditions. An app simultaneously measures soil moisture and CO₂ levels. Inside the greenhouse, 100 m³ of PFAS-contaminated soil is being treated by growing industrial hemp on it and adding soil additives. The additives bind or mobilise PFAS, support soil life and improve soil structure, while the industrial hemp – a fast-growing, deep-rooted and non-psychoactive crop – produces biomass and absorbs PFAS.

To monitor PFAS behaviour and determine the optimal treatment strategy, the greenhouse has been divided into two identical, independent compartments in which different conditions are tested. This allows for direct comparison of results and the creation of the best possible conditions.

Process intensification in a fully closed system

The greenhouse is safe, can be deployed year-round regardless of weather conditions, and enables careful, traceable testing. By controlling optimal heat, moisture and light conditions – which stimulate plant growth and microbial activity – it also ensures process intensification, thereby accelerating natural processes and PFAS removal. The system is fully closed: the irrigation water used, collected from rainwater harvesting, is captured and reused. Only the harvested biomass, which contains PFAS, is carefully removed from the system and safely disposed of. In this way, the project prevents any spread of contamination. Another major advantage is the greater flexibility to adjust and optimise conditions compared to in situ phytoremediation, where contaminated soil is treated directly on site.

Sustainable and scalable alternative

“PFAS currently represents one of the greatest challenges in soil remediation, both in Belgium and abroad. By joining forces with C-ground and C-biotech, we are exploring a sustainable alternative that is scalable and offers prospects for future projects,” says Maarten Taelemans, Managing Director at OVMB.
“This project demonstrates how innovation and collaboration can lead to sustainable and tangible solutions for complex environmental challenges. The closed greenhouse allows us to test PFAS remediation in a controlled, safe, and accelerated way, with full soil reuse as the ultimate goal,” says Herman Backaert, Innovation Manager at C-ground.
“There is no silver bullet solution for PFAS remediation. In addition to in situ techniques—whether physico-chemical for specific hotspots or phytoremediation for diffuse contamination—an ex situ technique is needed for sites where excavation is the only option. Rather than shifting an end-of-pipe solution that leads to a landfill, we aim to create healthy soil that can be reused,” adds Ingmar Nopens, Managing Director at C-biotech.

Innovation through collaboration

The pilot project is the result of intensive collaboration between innovative players. In August 2025, the greenhouse was constructed, followed by the filling with PFAS-contaminated soil in January 2026. OVMB provides the site and, together with C-ground, is responsible for the development and production of the greenhouse. C-biotech contributes its phytoremediation expertise using industrial hemp.

About OVMB

OVMB is a processor of industrial waste and ultimate treatment residues in the Ghent canal zone. At the site along J. Kennedylaan, a landfill (for hazardous and non-hazardous waste) has been operated for over 30 years. In addition, hazardous waste is treated on-site (solidification/immobilization), and lagooning activities are carried out.

OVMB also operates an asbestos treatment facility on a nearby plot for handling asbestos-containing (non-friable) waste, ensuring these streams are safely managed and stored in the landfill.

About Eiffage Construction BeLux

Eiffage Construction BeLux is part of the Eiffage Group, one of Europe’s leaders in construction and concessions. The group carries out complementary activities in urban development, real estate promotion, building construction, civil engineering, infrastructure and roads, energy systems, and concessions.

Through its fifteen subsidiaries, Eiffage Construction BeLux operates in buildings, civil engineering, real estate promotion, hydraulic and environmental works, carpentry, railway electrification, waste management, and industrial works. Leveraging the expertise of its 2,000 employees, the company achieved a turnover of €782 million in 2024.

About C-biotech

C-biotech is an innovative pioneer in using natural processes for sustainable solutions. As part of the Cordeel Group, C-biotech harnesses the power of industrial hemp for both soil remediation and the development of bio-based building materials.

Built on a strong scientific foundation and with respect for nature, C-biotech develops structural solutions for environmental challenges such as PFAS contamination. The company believes in nature as a lever for long-term change—locally and internationally—and works toward a circular future where soil restoration and construction innovation go hand in hand.

About C-ground

C-ground is an energy-innovation concept within the Cordeel Group that leverages patented Energy Hills for sustainable energy storage and management. By temporarily buffering renewable energy and strategically deploying it during peak demand, these ecological hydro-batteries combine energy efficiency with landscape value, particularly in the redevelopment of brownfields and former industrial sites.