What if invasive plants saved the planet?

What if invasive plants were saving the planet?

Though they may seem harmless, invasive plants are a silent menace that disrupts ecosystems and threatens biodiversity. Yet behind this nuisance lies tremendous potential. Chemist Claude Grison, a member of the French Academy of Sciences and a researcher at the CNRS, has discovered how these unwanted species can clean up soil and water by capturing the metals they contain—metals that can then be reused. The academician thus demonstrates that nature, even in its excesses, can become a valuable ally for greener chemistry and a more sustainable future.

From invasive plants to allies in pollution control

Claude Grison, a researcher at the CNRS and a member of the French Academy of Sciences, has turned certain invasive plants into a valuable resource. These species, often seen as threats to biodiversity, nevertheless possess an astonishing ability: they absorb metals from polluted soil and water.
The researcher’s idea is simple yet innovative: to transform this ecological nuisance into a tool for decontamination and metal recycling.

 Eco-catalysis: Turning Pollution into a Resource

By studying the root and molecular structure of these plants, Claude Grison discovered that they could absorb heavy metals such as copper, zinc, and even palladium. Once harvested and processed, these metal-saturated plants become“eco-catalysts”:plant-based powders capable of accelerating chemical reactions while reducing the environmental footprint of conventional chemistry.
This process helps clean up natural environments and creates materials useful in medicine, pharmaceuticals, and industry.

Sustainable and socially responsible chemistry

Claude Grison advocates forsustainable chemistry, a concept more ambitious than mere “green chemistry.” Her goal: a science that solves environmental problems rather than creating them.
She advocates for asymbiotic economy capable of combining ecology, innovation, and viable economic activity.
Her research has led to the creation of two CNRS-supported companies that transform scientific discoveries into practical applications: decontamination, metal recycling, and natural repellents inspired by plant communication.

Claude Grison is a research director at the CNRS and director of the Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Chemistry and Ecological Innovations (ChimEco – CNRS/University of Montpellier). She has been a member of the Academy of Sciences since January 2025. Learn more on theAcademy of Sciences website. 

Academies Channel
October 14, 2025

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