IAEA

Summary:
One initiative NUclear TEChnology for Controlling Plastic Pollution (NUTEC Plastics) developed at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) covering several activities that include Research and Development components and technical cooperation projects.
 
NUTEC Plastics is a comprehensive, globally-scaled response to plastic pollution—using nuclear science to both increase recycling effectiveness and strengthen microplastics monitoring. It supports sustainable innovation, builds capacity across member states, and aligns closely with global environmental policy goals.

 
Context:
Analysis and evidence show that nuclear applications can complement existing technologies and thus accelerate the transition towards a circular economy for plastics. However, the potential contribution of nuclear science and technology for addressing the plastics waste problem has not been fully explored yet, and hence is rarely integrated into proposals for sustainable, scalable solutions. A change is needed to increase the knowledge and awareness of these techniques and technologies, but more importantly to apply them more broadly in practice, in order to use the full potential of nuclear techniques’ role in reducing the global plastic waste burden.

 
To facilitate this the IAEA has developed NUTEC Plastics to assist its Member States in integrating nuclear techniques in their efforts to address challenges of plastic pollution. The IAEA is advancing solutions on two strategic fronts through cutting-edge upcycling technologies: (i) Biomass for Bio-based Plastics: The IAEA is promoting the use of biomass as a renewable feedstock for radiation-assisted synthesis of bio-based plastics. In essence, we are developing new materials that are both biodegradable and easily recyclable, providing a sustainable alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics. This approach not only diminishes dependence on fossil fuels but also aligns with circular economy principles by transforming organic waste into valuable resources; and (ii) Radiation Technology for Plastic Waste Conversion: Simultaneously, we are leveraging radiation technology to convert plastic waste into more durable, stronger, and higher-value products. This includes producing compatibilizers and blending agents for construction materials, enhancing concrete performance by partially replacing cement with recycled plastics, generating high-quality raw materials for industrial reuse, improving the sorting and separation of polymers in mixed waste streams, and exploring radiation-assisted pyrolysis to convert plastics into waxes, fuels, and other chemical products. These innovations showcase how nuclear science can play a transformative role in reducing plastic pollution, protecting ecosystems, and advancing sustainable development.
 
NUTEC Plastics integrates radiation technologies for plastic waste recycling into national, regional and global initiatives. Ongoing laboratory-scale activities are paving the way for pilot plastic recycling plants to establish the volume, energy and financial balances associated with using radiation technologies to recycling various plastic wastes. Based on the proof of principle and experience gained from piloting, a comprehensive guideline has been produced and will be disseminated to Member States to address how the technology should be scaled up to a large-scale plastic waste recycling demonstration plant(s).
 
The Ocean is the final repository of mismanaged and unrecycled land-based plastics, and there is a lack of sufficient knowledge and understanding of the amount and impact of microplastics litter in the ocean. More accurate data is needed to assess the effect that microplastics and associated contaminants have on marine organisms that are part of the global food chain, such as food for human consumption, and therefore on seafood exports, food safety and human health. Isotopic techniques offer unparalleled precision and complement conventional techniques in tracking the concentration and distribution of nano- and micro-plastics in the marine environment. Isotopic tracers, radio-labelled plastic particles in experimental studies, imaging techniques and gamma and beta spectroscopy provide unique information that helps to assess the impacts of micro- and nano-plastics on marine biota. These techniques provide important tools for studying the fate of plastics in organisms, to reveal in detail the impacted organs and pathways in the food chain and allow to trace the actual toxicological stress and their possible propagation in food chains that can ultimately impact humans through consumption of seafood. In addition, vibrational spectroscopy appears as a unique tools to (1) allows precise classification of microplastic particles—down to ~20 µm in size—by capturing their polymer-specific vibrational fingerprints in microplastics extracted from marine matrices (water, beach sand, sediment and marine organisms) and (2) to source tracing enabling characterization of polymer types (e.g., PE, PTFE), which supports tracing the origin of pollution.

Key achievements since the launch of the NUTEC initiatives (2021) /milestones:

Network & capacity building: For NUTEC marine microplastics, a global network of 99 countries (104 labs), has been established, equipping labs at varying capacities—from basic sample collection to advanced regional hubs. In addition, 145 people to date have been trained in the four regions.
On the other hand, IAEA is also collaborating with 52 countries on novel upcycling efforts by using radiation assisted technology; Nine of them are developing pilot plants—marking a major step forward in turning innovation into real-world impact. These countries are advancing rapidly along the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) scale—a globally recognized nine-stage framework that tracks the maturity of technologies from concept to commercial deployment: Argentina, Brazil, China, Ghana, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines, and Thailand.
 
Harmonized methods: For now, the establishment of 2 harmonized, standardized protocols to identify microplastics in environmental samples has been endorsed by NUTEC participants and experts; a series of others are in preparation. In the Upcycling component, 2 harmonized methods have been developed and validated to generate plastic compatibilizers for constructive materials and enhance radiation assisted pyrolysis for wax and fuels.
 
Infrastructure boost (marine monitoring): A dedicated plastics lab was built at Monaco’s Marine Environment Laboratories to support analysis and training on marine microplastics analyses, and more than 60 countries have been trained and equipped for being able to produce reliable data following harmonized protocols.
 
UN alignment: The monitoring work aligns with UN SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and supports the UN Ocean Decade initiative. It potentially could contribute to the need related to monitoring programs that will result from the adoption of a global plastic Treaty (in preparation).
The upcycling component aligns with UN SDG 12
 
Research and development: A wide range of activities have been carried out within this framework, including protocol testing, the development of new tools, and studies aimed at assessing the impact of microplastics on marine organisms. Coordinated Research Projects (CRPs), which are structured, multi-year research initiative that brings together institutes and scientists from IAEA Member States to collaborate on a common scientific or technical challenge, have been also included under the NUTEC initiative.
To date, these efforts have resulted in over 4 CRPs tackling marine microplastics, 50 publications and 30 scientific communications.
 
Data repository / database boost (marine monitoring): Substantial progress has been made in reinforcing the data infrastructure supporting marine microplastics monitoring. This includes the creation and expansion of centralized databases designed to store, standardize, and share data collected by NUTEC counterparts across participating laboratories. The platform not only serves as a repository for national and regional datasets but is also being developed to interface with key international databases and policy frameworks. It will support reporting on relevant indicators under SDG 14, particularly those related to marine plastic pollution.