Plastics meet the atom

Manila became ground zero for a global experiment: nuclear science deployed against hard-to-recycle plastics, as ministers, scientists, and youth wrestled with the planet’s mounting environmental crisis in a forum called Nutec Plastics, hosted by the Philippines and the IAEA on 12 December, marking Director General Rafael Grossi’s first official visit to the country and the start of the Philippines’ three-year term on the IAEA Board of Governors.

Science Secretary Renato Solidum stressed that the work of the Philippines under NUTEC Plastics directly supports the country’s commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly on responsible consumption and production, climate resilience, and sustainable communities. 

He highlighted how innovations such as the PREx Prototype House and the microplastics monitoring program at the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute demonstrate the growing role of nuclear science and technology in addressing plastic pollution, enhancing disaster resilience, and advancing inclusive, science-based development.

Director General Grossi noted that the Philippines’ strong research institutions, growing technical capability, and active leadership in Nutec Plastics made it the natural choice to host this year’s high-level forum.

He underscored the importance of empowering young scientists and innovators as partners in advancing nuclear technologies for sustainable development. He also thanked the President for his personal commitment and leadership in driving forward this global effort.

In his special message, ADB President Masato Kanda emphasized that challenges of this scale require science to be matched with the right financing and policy frameworks.

He underscored the role of development finance institutions in bridging the gap between innovation and implementation, ensuring that technologies such as those under Nutec Plastics can be deployed at scale and deliver real impact for communities.

President Marcos stressed that global challenges such as plastic pollution demand collective solutions anchored in science, responsible innovation and strong multilateral cooperation , principles that guide the Philippines’ engagement with the IAEA and its work to build a more resilient and sustainable future.

The Philippines is one of nine pilot countries leading the work on radiation-enabled plastics upcycling.

A central innovation that will was showcased at the forum is the Post-Radiation Reactive Extrusion project of the DoST–Philippine Nuclear Research Institute.

Using electron beam irradiation, PREx modifies the polymer structure of mixed and low-value plastic waste, improving tensile strength, compatibility, and durability. The irradiated materials are then processed into tiles, bricks, and structural panels.

These materials are being deployed in the PREx Prototype House, a first-of-its-kind structure located at the PNRI compound in Quezon City. Designed as a typical Filipino residence, the House will be used as a live testbed for environmental exposure, structural performance, and long-term degradation studies.

The PREx initiative is implemented in partnership with Envirotech Waste Recycling Inc., the DoST–Industrial Technology Development Institute, and the IAEA, and is aligned with NUTEC Plastics’ goal of using nuclear technologies to support industrial development and circular economy models.

The forum also examined how nuclear techniques can improve understanding of microplastics in marine and coastal environments.