Model Marte Mei van Haaster turns phytoremediation into design

Marte Mei van Haaster, a 33-year-old model recognized for her work with Givenchy and Gaultier, as well as her appearance on the cover of Vogue NL, is also a designer dedicated to sustainable practices. Her new collection, Mending Lands, will be showcased at St Vincents gallery in Antwerp from 7 May to 26 June. This collection includes items crafted from phytoresin, a blend of bioresin and hemp sourced from a fire-department site in Ranst, Belgium, known for PFAS contamination. The hemp was cultivated 160 km away in Ranst, with assistance from Nesse, a cultural center in Terneuzen. Collaborating with C-Biotech, she developed a soil enhancer that boosted PFAS bio-absorption by 30 times, cutting PFAS levels by up to 67%. Eurofins conducted tests on the pieces. Van Haaster's journey into phytoremediation began in 2023 after discovering contaminated plants at De Ceuvel in Amsterdam, which inspired her Ceuvel Plates project. Balancing her modeling career with design, she emphasizes her identity as a designer first. Her innovative work has led to commissions, such as a table made from marble offcuts for Bottega Veneta's Milan headquarters. Van Haaster's goal is to demonstrate the feasibility of phytoremediation and to expand its application for public infrastructure.