The Dominican Republic generates 400 tons of plastic per year: INTEC promotes the bioplastics industry
SANTO DOMINGO - Given the annual generation of more than 406,000 tons of plastic waste in the Dominican Republic, the transformation of agro-industrial waste into bioplastics is emerging as a technological solution that can provide new raw materials to the local manufacturing industry and, in turn, represents an alternative for the valorization of this waste.
The proposal was supported with statistical data by researcher Pamela Tejada, specialist of the Bioplastics and Biomaterials Innovation Unit of Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), during its participation in Expo Sostenible 2026.
Analyzing the national context, Tejada revealed that 84% of plastic waste is concentrated in the country's urban areas. This is compounded by the global challenge, in which annual plastic production reaches 430 million tons, 66% of which corresponds to disposable or "short-lived" products that are discarded almost immediately after use.
During her presentation, “Potential for the Development of Bioplastics from Agro-industrial Waste as Alternative Materials,” the researcher explained that the country has the opportunity to leverage the biomass generated by agriculture to develop biodegradable polymers. This transition would reduce dependence on petroleum-derived resins and contribute to a circular economy.
Impact on local industry
The study of new packaging alternatives is especially relevant in the Dominican economic context, where the plastics industry comprises 472 companies. This sector generates 15,846 direct jobs and contributes 1,2% to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP), highlighting the need to transition to sustainable models without affecting productivity.
To make this development viable, INTEC, through its Bioplastics and Biomaterials Innovation Unit, maintains strategic alliances for biomaterials research with entities such as the Dominican Association of the Plastics Industry (Adiplast), the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs (MICM) and private consortia such as Cítricos Dominicanos and Font Gamundi.
Furthermore, the projects have the support of national research networks, such as SARGARD, and various international universities and research centers, including the Universitat Politècnica de València and AIMPLAS - Technological Institute of Plastics.
Tejada made the intervention within the framework of the Sustainable Expo 2026, an event that brought together the main actors from the public, private and academic sectors to promote sustainable business models in the face of current climate challenges.
Along these lines, INTEC has been consolidating an applied research agenda in this field. It currently has a project approved by FONDOCYT for the development of biocomposites from starches extracted from natural sources, reinforced with fibers from agro-industrial waste, with the aim of generating alternative materials with potential for industrial application.
In addition, the scientific and technical team has made progress in developing biodegradability and disintegration tests for plastic and bioplastic materials, some of the latter developed in the laboratory. This strengthens the technical validation of these materials and provides scientific evidence on their environmental performance. This line of work aligns with the institution's mission to transform agro-industrial waste into bioplastics, biomaterials, and bioproducts of interest for sustainable development.
About INTEC
El Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) is a Dominican institution of private, public service and non-profit higher education, founded in 1972 and distinguished for its contributions to scientific and technological research.