Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –
Mary Albon, IAEA Office of Public Information and Communication
The role of nuclear science and technology in helping countries tackle the global challenge of plastic pollution is the focus of a major IAEA event that opened today in Manila. The International High Level Forum on NUTEC Plastics will showcase concrete results achieved by this flagship initiative launched by the IAEA in 2020.
Hosted by the Government of the Philippines from 25 to 26 November, the forum will highlight progress, identify challenges and chart a course for the future of NUTEC Plastics. The opening ceremony of the event was attended by the President of the Philippines, President of the Asian Development Bank and Director General of the IAEA.
“NUTEC Plastics embodies the kind of innovation we need — solutions that merge advanced nuclear applications with environmental protection and translate scientific progress into tangible benefits for industry and society. Our scientific institutions here in the Philippines have embraced this challenge, building on the strength of international scientific cooperation,” said Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., President of the Philippines, in his keynote address.
“NUTEC Plastics is driving innovation in monitoring plastics in the ocean and in turning plastic waste into useful products,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. “Looking at plastic pollution from the atomic level allows us to understand microplastic pollution and its movements through marine ecosystems, which supports well-informed policy decisions to deal with it. And by using irradiation we can reduce the amount of plastic waste by turning it into valuable products like building materials.”
“To solve a problem of this scale, science must be paired with financing and policy,” said Masato Kanda, president of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) at the forum’s opening session. “Here in the Philippines, ADB is planning a $1 billion program to develop a sustainable and resilient blue economy. Complementing this, we are harnessing digital solutions to simulate the flow of plastic pollution in the Pasig River to help rejuvenate this important waterway. We are also deepening our collaboration with the IAEA across the board: from food security to energy transition.”
NUTEC Plastics presently works with 53 countries to improve plastic recycling and develop bio-based plastics, and with 102 countries to monitor marine microplastic pollution.
The forum brings together government officials, scientists, policy makers and representatives from the private sector, international financial institutions and multilateral organizations from across Asia and the Pacific and beyond.
A ministerial segment will spotlight how countries are tackling plastic pollution, setting the stage for solutions-driven discussions. Representatives of international and regional organizations such as the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the Asian Development Bank will also share their insights and expertise. Adding to the momentum, young experts will take the floor to share their perspectives on how nuclear science can help turn the tide on the plastic pollution crisis. The event is broadcast live here.
The Global Scourge of Plastic Pollution
Every day, the equivalent of 2000 garbage trucks full of plastic are dumped into the world’s oceans, rivers and lakes. Every year, 19-23 million tonnes of plastic waste leaks into waterways, disrupting habitats and livelihoods. Since plastic is not biodegradable, it breaks down into ever smaller fragments, which eventually degrade into microplastics. Microplastics can easily infiltrate into ecosystems and the food chain through water, air and soil.
By 2050 global plastic production is expected to almost triple to 1.1 billion tonnes. Meanwhile, less than 10% of the 7 billion tonnes of existing plastic has been recycled.
NUTEC Plastics: Nuclear Solutions for Plastic Upcycling
Radiation can transform plastic waste into durable, high value materials and products. It can also create biodegradable bio-based plastics as an alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. The High Level Forum will identify challenges to scaling radiation technologies for upcycling and propose strategies to overcome them.
To date, eight countries have NUTEC upcycling projects underway in cooperation with commercial partners. Argentina, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines are at the forefront in demonstrating the feasibility of using irradiation to recycle plastic waste to produce construction materials, industrial additives, railway ties and other durable products. These countries have already tested prototype processes and are moving toward pilot-scale industrial production.
To support the commercialization of radiation-assisted upcycling, the IAEA has released three tools for measuring plastic circularity, identifying the level of technological maturity and calculating the economic feasibility of integrating electron beam technologies into plastic recycling. Countries can also use the IAEA’s new transportable electron beam system for research and development, training and demonstration activities.
Monitoring Marine Microplastics
Nuclear and related techniques can be used to track the movement and behaviour of microplastics in the marine environment, identify their sources and analyse their degradation processes.
NUTEC Plastics equips laboratories worldwide with the technology and expertise needed for sampling, analysing and monitoring marine microplastic pollution. The initiative has already trained more than 400 scientists worldwide through the IAEA’s technical cooperation programme, and its Global Marine Monitoring Network, which connects more than 100 laboratories, is harmonising global monitoring protocols.
The High Level Forum will highlight progress and identify challenges and opportunities in these areas and showcase new tools for microplastic monitoring.
“We’ve come a long way, but there’s still a lot to do,” concluded Director General Grossi. “The IAEA cannot do this alone: I invite governments, international organizations, research institutes, private enterprises and donors to join us in this exciting next phase of the fight against plastic waste.”