INTEC strengthens the capabilities of the Dominican plastics sector through specialized training in Life Cycle Analysis
The program, developed through an alliance between academia, the State and the productive sector, strengthened the technical skills of professionals in the plastics industry to respond to the sustainability and competitiveness challenges of current markets.
SANTO DOMINGO – The Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), through its Environmental Management Center (CEGA), developed the course “Life Cycle Analysis: Methodology and Communication of Results”, an initiative aimed at strengthening the technical capacities of professionals in the Dominican plastics sector in the use of internationally recognized methodologies to evaluate the environmental performance of products, processes and support evidence-based decision-making.
The training program was developed under a collaborative model between academia, the State and the productive sector, through the participation of INTEC, through the Center for Environmental Management (CEGA) and the Center for Training and Research in Plastics (CCIP), the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs (MICM) and the Dominican Association of the Plastics Industry (Adiplast), with the purpose of strengthening the competitiveness and sustainability of the national industry.
During the virtual and in-person sessions, participants worked with real-world case studies from the sector using a practical methodology that integrated the fundamentals of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), data analysis, environmental modeling, and the interpretation and communication of results. The content was based on international standards, including ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 for Life Cycle Assessment, the ISO 59000 family of standards on circular economy, and ISO 14026 on environmental communication.
The program was taught by Dr. Yaset Rodríguez and Dr. Elena Regla Rosa Domínguez, specialists in life cycle analysis, environmental assessment, and the circular economy. During the course, they integrated academic rigor with practical case studies and applications tailored to the Dominican industrial context, promoting learning focused on solving real-world challenges in the sector.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is one of the most widely used methodologies internationally for evaluating the environmental impacts associated with a product or process throughout its entire life cycle. Its application allows for the identification of improvement opportunities, supports technical and strategic decisions, strengthens transparency in environmental communication, and prepares organizations to respond to an increasingly sustainability-oriented regulatory and commercial environment.
In this context, INTEC demonstrates, through CEGA, its academic, scientific and technical capabilities to design and deliver specialized programs in sustainability, circular economy, environmental assessment and Life Cycle Analysis, as well as to support the productive sector in incorporating methodologies aligned with international trends and the needs of Dominican industry.
The skills developed during the course help companies to have more tools to understand the environmental performance of their products, identify opportunities for improvement in their processes and prepare to respond to increasingly present environmental requirements in international markets, including the measurement of the carbon footprint, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and other environmental assessment methodologies used in international trade.
Delivery of certificates
The program lasted 10 hours and included the participation of 18 professionals from various companies in the plastics sector, who received certificates of participation at a closing ceremony held at INTEC. The diversity of represented institutions fostered the exchange of experiences and strengthened collaborative ties between academia and industry.
During the activity, the Vice-Rector of Research and Linkage of INTEC, Rosario Aróstegui, highlighted the importance of the triple helix model as an engine to promote innovation and sustainable development through collaboration between academia, the State and the business sector.
He also highlighted INTEC's institutional commitment to education, applied research, and collaboration with the productive sector, noting that the university will continue to promote initiatives that contribute to the development of solutions based on scientific knowledge to address environmental challenges and strengthen the competitiveness of Dominican companies.
With initiatives like this, INTEC consolidates its role as a strategic ally of the Dominican productive sector, by promoting specialized training, applied research and knowledge transfer to face the challenges of sustainability and business competitiveness.
About CEGA
The Environmental Management Center (CEGA) is a center specializing in applied research, training, consulting and service provision, attached to the Basic and Environmental Sciences Area of the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC). Its mission is to contribute to the sustainable development of the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean region through the generation and transfer of knowledge, the training of human talent and technical support to the productive, governmental and community sectors in matters of sustainability, circular economy, life cycle analysis and environmental management.