Israeli-based cleantech pioneers, UBQ Materials, have announced plans to establish its first full-scale production facility in the Netherlands. The team at UBQ Materials have developed a patented process to convert landfill-destined waste into a sustainable, bio-based thermoplastic material. This novel climate-positive material can then substitute conventional plastic, wood and concrete in the manufacturing of thousands of everyday products. UBQ is a proprietary composite, the world’s first bio-based material made of unsorted organic, paper and plastic waste – everything from banana peels to dirty diapers to used yogurt containers and cardboard.
By diverting household waste from reaching landfills, UBQ Materials (@UBQ_Materials ) prevents the emission of methane, ground water leakage and other toxins. According to Quantis, a leading provider of environmental impact assessments, every ton of UBQ Material produced, diverts 11.7 tons of CO2 equivalent, qualifying it as ‘The most climate positive thermoplastic material on the planet.”
The establishment of the facility follows the EU’s decision to support the development of sustainable industries, striving to increase the use of environmental plastic alternatives. UBQ will be sold across Europe and exported to countries around the world, further reducing the transportation-related carbon footprint of businesses and consumers alike.
To officially mark the global expansion, Netherlands’ ambassador to Israel, Hans Docter, will visit and tour UBQ’s existing facility in Kibbutz Tse’elim, Israel on September 9th 2020. The Netherlands facility will have an annual production rate of 70,000 tons of UBQ The versatile material has thousands of applications and can be used to supply the manufacturing of everything from construction goods like pipes, bricks, floors, roofing and panels; supply chain logistics like shipping pallets, bins, crates and display units; UBQ is even being used in auto parts and 3D printing.
In November 2019, UBQ Materials partnered with Arcos Dorados, the world’s largest franchisee of McDonald’s, to produce climate-positive food trays for McDonald’s restaurants throughout Latin America. In early 2020, the company announced its collaboration with Daimler, manufacturer of Mercedes-Benz, for the implementation of UBQ in car parts. Additional partnerships with leading brands in fashion, retail, logistics and FMCG and fashion are underway and with expected announcements to be released in Q1 2021.
UBQ Materials are Silver Sponsor of World Bio Markets (March 29th-31st 2020, Amsterdam).
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