UBQ Materials is the first company in the world that can convert organic and non-recyclable household waste into so-called bio-based thermoplastics. Their first plant outside of Israel is being built in Bergen op Zoom (Netherlands). It will process more than 100,000 tons of municipal waste into 80,000 tons of plastic material. The unit will be in operation by the end of 2023.
Organic section
UBQ materials are produced using the organic part of household waste: food scraps and mixed plastics, as well as cardboard, paper and even dirty diapers. It will process this fraction into a plastic substitute, with the final product consisting of UBQ pellets, a resource for many products. Although its original resource is a heterogeneous waste stream, the composition of these particles is fairly constant. The device breaks down organic materials into lignin or wood chips and cellulose, which is already the type of bioplastic in the base. The plastic residue is combined with these organic chains to form a new type of plastic. This is the success of UBQ in making homogeneous products.
UBQ materials remove anything from the waste stream that can be recycled, such as metals and minerals. It's not necessary for the technology," said Rachel Barr, vice president of sustainability at UBQ Materials. But if we don't, we would be going against our own sustainability principles. The rest becomes UBQ." The final product has many possible applications for plastic dog kennels and household products. The company's products are in demand by major companies such as Mercedes, McDonald's, PepsiCo, AB Indev and various chemical companies.
About UBQ.
- UBQ is composed of 100% recyclable materials and is self-recycling.
-Overall, it prevents the release of climate gases because the waste is no longer incinerated or landfilled.
-The new material is uniform and consistent.
-Competitive price.
-It brings a new existence to waste, which prevents the use of resources such as wood, fossil fuels, minerals and concrete.
-The material contains at least 50% bio-based content.
Barr insists that UBQ is a bio-based thermoplastic, a material used in plastic car parts, furniture and PVC pipes, among others. For this type of plastic, it is a good and sustainable alternative. It saves scarce raw materials, prevents methane emissions from foreign landfills, reduces CO2 emissions from burning waste in the Netherlands, and helps phase out and reuse waste on the path to a circular economy. Although UBQ is safe, it should not be used in products that come into contact with food. This is related to the mandatory end-of-waste status, and these types of raw materials are difficult to obtain. Therefore, the material is currently only used as an alternative to hard plastics.
