IAEA Event Highlights Progress In Upcycling And Monitoring Plastics

Plastic waste recycled into railway tracks and light but sturdy concrete for use in construction were among the promising developments presented at a recent event to review progress under the IAEA’s flagship NUTEC Plastics initiative to tackle plastic pollution.

The event, which took place on the margins of the 69th IAEA General Conference, brought together donors, researchers and industry representatives.

Plastics are in everyday use around the world, and the vast quantities of plastic waste discarded globally pose a major threat to ecosystems, particularly in the marine environment.

In 2020, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi launched NUTEC Plastics to spur collaboration, research and development for innovative solutions to plastic pollution using nuclear technology.

“NUTEC Plastics shows very concretely how we can put our scientific knowledge at the service of Member States towards a solution to one of today’s most pervasive environmental problems,” the IAEA Director General said at the opening of the event.

E- beams Support a Circular Economy
During the event, speakers from different regions presented latest milestones in transitioning from research to the development of products using polymeric waste.

“Radiation can modify polymers — molecules that form the basis for plastics — depending on type, dose and composition,” said Celina Horak, Head of the IAEA’s Radioisotope Products and Radiation Technology Section. “It can be used in powerful and innovative ways to support recycling efforts.”

Argentina showcased its partnership with green investor Circularis to develop railway sleepers —or ties — from plastic waste using radiation. “We have more than 20 000 kilometres of rail tracks that need to be renewed or maintained, and each sleeper will use about 100 kilograms of recycled plastic,” said Veronica Vogt from Argentina’s National Atomic Energy Commission. “We found significant enhancements in the mechanical properties of the recycled material during our research, so this is very promising,” she added. The country is now finalizing a prototype for field tests in 2026.

China presented innovative laboratory developments for recycling polyolefin plastics — commonly used to produce cling film and shrink wrap — into industrial wax, which is widely used in large quantities for greasing machinery. This approach offers a sustainable alternative to traditional waxes, which are produced from fossil fuels.

Tunisia is making strides in replacing cement by combining recycled plastics to produce concrete. This construction material is one of the most widely used substances in the world, and its production a significant contributor to global CO2 emissions. “Radiation technology can modify plastic structure and make it more compatible with concrete, turning a problem into the solution,” said Amira Zaouak from the Tunisian National Centre for Nuclear Sciences and Technology.

The research, carried out in partnership with a recycling company, is yielding promising results: lighter, cheaper and equally strong concrete that contains 10% plastic. “If implemented, this could transform the construction industry and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Zaouak added.

Winchester Lemen, representing Envirotech, a partner in the Philippines, underscored the positive impact nuclear technology can bring in producing affordable and sustainable housing materials.

Building Capacity for Data Collection
Spectrometry and radiotracers help to track the amount and distribution of nano and microplastics in the marine environment, and the IAEA’s NUTEC Plastics initiative supports countries in applying these precision techniques. Comparable data across countries is critical to inform policies to protect shared resources like the oceans.

NUTEC Plastics aims to establish a network of marine laboratories to monitor microplastics worldwide. “With more than 100 countries involved, we’re working to equip scientists with the technology and expertise needed to address this issue,” said Florence Descroix Comanducci, Director of the IAEA’s Marine Environment Laboratories.

“With IAEA support, we have now established capacity and harmonized protocols to monitor microplastics up to 3 mm in size,” said Jasmina Obhodas from the Ruder Boskovic Institute in Croatia.

Viet Nam received training and equipment to support the establishment of a Level III laboratory — the most advanced level for sampling and analysis — and has now provided its first baseline dataset on microplastics.

“Since 2022, over 600 people have been trained and more than 40 laboratories have been equipped for sample collection through our technical cooperation programme,” said Ge Deng, Director of the IAEA’s Division for Asia and the Pacific.

Representing donor countries, the ambassadors from Japan and Australia reiterated their support for NUTEC Plastics at the event. The two countries have contributed more than €2M towards the IAEA initiative. 

Advances under the initiative will be highlighted at the upcoming IAEA High Level Forum on NUTEC Plastics from 25 to 26 November 2025 in Manila, Philippines. The event will bring together government leaders, scientists and industry representatives to chart the course for strengthening cooperation on the sustainable management of plastic waste using innovative nuclear technologies.