In the fight against global plastic pollution, the Philippines, through the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) showcased the first-of-its-kind prototype house built with radiation-processed plastic tiles and panels.
This residential house prototype is the first-of-its-kind model of a house built with radiation-processed plastic tiles, panels, and bricks. It’s a product of a study that low-value plastic wastes can be turned into durable construction materials. (Photo by John Louver Patriarcha, DOSTv)
DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. said this common Filipino residential house model is a concrete example of the country’s achievement in leveraging nuclear science and radiation technology as an “innovative yet realistic solution for reprocessing plastic wastes.”
“Thanks to the IAEA NUTEC Plastics initiative, and the collaboration of scientists from the DOST-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, Industrial Technology Development Institute and their counterpart, Envirotech. I am proud to say that we have made great progress since then,” Solidum said.
The Nuclear Technology for Controlling Plastic Pollution (NUTEC Plastics) is an initiative launched by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to help countries use nuclear science to monitor and reduce plastic pollution. The Philippines is one of the nine pilot countries leading the world in the plastics upcycle component of NUTEC Plastics initiative.
Through the Post-Radiation Reactive Extrusion (PREx) project, researchers of DOST-PNRI were able to show that low-value plastic waste can be transformed into durable construction materials like tiles, bricks, and panels.
“A lot of them [plastics] are coming from sachets. These are quite common in the Philippines. They are treated with radiation. What does the radiation do? It enables the bonding of the plastics to be modified, so that there will be stronger bonds. If you did not apply the radiation, the product, even if you heat it, will not be very sustainable,” DOST-PNRI Director Carlo A. Arcilla said, explaining how plastic wastes are turned into useful materials.
He added that radiation-induced processing can only be done using an electron beam or gamma radiation, however, he clarified that the radiation does not make the plastics radioactive, making the technology safe for handling and everyday use.
Moreover, aside from its significant contribution to circular-economy innovation, upcycling plastic waste materials can also be a business opportunity, according to Solidum.
“We also wanted to change the mindset of our people at the community level. One of the things that we need to change is when people see plastic, they don’t see plastic, but they see money. If you think that what you see is money, you won’t throw it away. So essentially what we’re trying to do now is really combine science, technology, innovation, and business,” Solidum said.
Displayed at the DOST-PNRI compound, the PREx model house is the first prototype physically demonstrated exclusively in the country during the first visit of the IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi on November 26, 2025.
His visit is also part of the first International High-Level Forum on NUTEC Plastics convened at Conrad Hotel, Pasay City on November 25.
The forum aimed to serve as a platform to gather ministers, scientists, regulators, innovators, and industry leaders to tackle international perspectives, opportunities, and challenges in addressing global plastic pollution.
“The Philippines is honored to convene this high-level forum at the moment when nations are redefining how science and technology shape their development and protect. Across the world, environmental pressures are converging with rapid technological changes. Leadership today demands not only political will, but an ability to integrate scientific evidence, cutting-edge research, and strategic foresight into national and global decision-making,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said.
Marcos led the opening ceremony of the forum at Conrad Hotel Pasay City.
The PREx model house is one of the many initiatives of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) aimed at providing science-based, innovative, and inclusive solutions across four strategic pillars: human well-being, wealth creation, wealth protection, and sustainability. These pillars embody the mantra OneDOST4U: Solutions and Opportunities for All.
