Nuclear science offers innovative solutions across the entire plastic lifecycle, from production to reuse.

Plastic has made daily life safer, cleaner, and more convenient, but poor waste management has led to a serious environmental problem. Now, scientists are investigating the potential of nuclear energy to improve plastic recycling.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the world generated 400 million tons of plastic waste in 2024, but only 9% of this was recycled. The rest, unfortunately, ended up as landfill trash or, worse, in the oceans, contributing to the microplastic problem and harming marine ecosystems.

NUTEC Plastics: the initiative that unites nuclear energy and sustainability

To reverse this trend, the IAEA launched the NUTEC Plastics initiative in 2021, which uses nuclear techniques to study and mitigate plastic pollution. This program helps countries track microplastics in the sea and improve recycling processes through radiation, thereby reducing the amount of waste reaching the oceans.

Nuclear science offers innovative solutions across the entire plastic lifecycle, from production to reuse. Since 80% of marine pollution originates from land-based sources, land-based action is essential.

Two Approaches Using Radiation Technology

The IAEA is currently working on two main lines of research:

Developing Sustainable Plastics
Radiation is used to create biodegradable and recyclable bioplastics, a cleaner alternative to petroleum-based materials. This approach reduces dependence on fossil fuels and promotes a circular economy, transforming organic waste into new resources.

Transforming Waste into High-Value Materials
Using radiation, plastic waste can be transformed into more durable and resistant products, such as construction materials or industrial additives. It has also been shown that radiation improves the sorting and separation of polymers, and that radiation-assisted pyrolysis can transform plastics into waxes, fuels, or reusable chemicals.

Does radiation make these materials dangerous?

Now, one of the main questions that arises among the public regarding the use of radiation is: how safe is it? According to research, absolutely safe.

In fact, it is considered a form of “green chemistry,” since it does not require toxic chemicals or extreme temperature or pressure conditions. The radiation only acts during the process and does not remain in the treated material, just as an X-ray does not leave radiation in the body. The result is safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly products.

Currently, 52 countries are collaborating with the IAEA on projects that integrate nuclear technology into plastic recycling. Nine of them are participating as pilot countries, advancing on the international Technology Readiness Level (TRL) scale, which measures progress from the laboratory to commercialization.

The results are already visible:

• Indonesia and the Philippines: developing wood-plastic composites for sustainable construction.
• Malaysia: transforming plastic waste into fuel.
• Argentina: manufacturing recycled railway sleepers that pass durability tests.

These projects represent proof of progress: technologies that combine nuclear science, sustainability, and the circular economy. The IAEA anticipates that several of them will enter large-scale implementation next year.