UBQ Materials

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UBQ Materials
TypePrivately held company
IndustryAdvanced Materials
FoundedJuly 2012
Headquarters
Tel Aviv
,
Israel
Key people
Albert Douer, Executive Chairman and Co-CEO
Jack (Tato) Bigio, Co-Founder and Co-CEO
ProductsThermoplastic made from unsorted waste
Websiteubqmaterials.com

UBQ Materials is an Israeli cleantech company that converts unsorted household waste into a bio-based thermoplastic composite. The company's commercial product, UBQ™, is a raw material that can substitute wood, concrete, or oil-based plastics in the manufacturing of durable products.[1][2][3] In 2018, UBQ Materials Ltd. became a Certified B Corporation™.[4]

History[]

Funding[]

UBQ Materials was founded in 2012 by Yehuda Pearl, Jack (Tato) Bigio, and Eran Lev. The Company developed patents for the conversion of unsorted municipal waste, including all organics, into a thermoplastic material. The patented UBQ product and manufacturing process was developed between 2012 and 2017. Albert Douer, owner of multinational petrochemical, construction, and packaging manufacturer, joined the company in 2013 as a senior strategic investor[5] and later as chairman of the board. In 2018, UBQ began commercial production. UBQ has offices located in Tel Aviv, Israel, and a manufacturing plant in Kibbutz Tze'elim in the Negev area of southern Israel.

Financing[]

As of 2019, UBQ has raised $42.5 million from private investors, Battery Ventures and EASME.

Year Amount Investor
2012 $3.5M Private Investors
2013-2019 $39M Battery Ventures, Private Investors

Technology[]

Waste is received, either as residual solid waste diverted from landfills or as RDF, already dried and shredded. The waste runs through stages of automatic refinement, removing particles of metals and minerals that are sent to recycling facilities. At this stage it is cleared as feedstock for the reactor; physical processes set off a chemical reaction in the waste, breaking down the organic elements to their basic particulate components; lignin, sugar, cellulose, and fibers. These components are reconstituted into a homogenous matrix with the melted plastics to create UBQ™.[6]

The resulting material is sold as standardized pellets to be used in conventional manufacturing machinery to create products with a reduced environmental footprint.

UBQ Materials thermoplastic pellets.

Application[]

UBQ™ material is used in injection, compression molding, extrusion and 3D printing, and is compatible with PP, PE, PLA, and PVC. The concentration of UBQ™ within the final material compound is dependent on the physical property requirements of the product application. It may be compounded with additives to modify coloration, impact strength, and UV resistance.[7]

In November 2019, UBQ Materials entered into a collaboration with fast-food chain McDonald's franchisee Arcos Dorados to develop serving trays made with UBQ™.[8]

In January 2020, German automotive manufacturer Mercedes-Benz[9] announced it will test UBQ products in its vehicles, for production of the passenger cabin and outer plastic parts.

UBQ™ is utilized as a sustainability additive in retail products, furniture,[10] and within the material supply chain.[11]

Environmental impact[]

Each ton of UBQ™ material diverts 1.3 tons of landfill-destined waste and prevents up to 11.7 tons of CO2 equivalent.[12] Environmental impact calculations are derived from ISO 14040/44 compliant[13] life cycle assessment of the UBQ™ material produced in Tse’elim, Israel. The patented conversion process uses ¼ the energy of conventional plastic manufacturing, requires no water, and produces no effluents or sludge.[14]

UBQ™ is a bio-preferred USDA certified material, recyclable, and composed entirely of recycled materials.[15]

References[]

  1. ^ Morrison, Jim; Kordova, Shoshana (2019-11-18). "Revolutionary recycling? A new technology turns everyday trash into plastic treasure". Washington Post.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ Zion, Ilan Ben. "Waste recycling: Israeli business says it can turn garbage into plastic products". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
  3. ^ "Tomlinson: Israeli company challenges plastic industry with material made from garbage". HoustonChronicle.com. 2020-05-04. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
  4. ^ "U.B.Q MATERIALS LTD | Certified B Corporation". bcorporation.net.
  5. ^ "UBQ Company Profile: Valuation & Investors | PitchBook".
  6. ^ Kosciulek, Samara Abramson, Mark Abadi, Amelia. "Investors are pouring billions into the alternative plastics industry — and these companies are racing to deliver". Business Insider. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
  7. ^ "Israel-Based UBQ Materials is Turning Garbage into Recyclable Plastic". Waste360. 2020-05-07. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
  8. ^ www.bloomberg.com https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/2019-11-21/arcos-dorados-partners-with-ubq-to-use-climate-positive-materials-in-mcdonald-s-restaurants. Retrieved 2021-12-15. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ^ Daimler. ""Zero waste production is possible"". Daimler. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
  10. ^ Spiro, James (2021-04-19). "Keter Group and UBQ Materials partner to bring sustainable garden goods". CTECH - www.calcalistech.com. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
  11. ^ Ltd, UBQ Materials. "Bazan Group Inks Deal with UBQ Materials to Incorporate Climate Positive Thermoplastic into Resin Product Lines". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
  12. ^ "UBQ Materials". Quantis. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
  13. ^ "UBQ Materials awarded ISO certifications for waste-derived thermoplastic". www.compositesworld.com. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
  14. ^ "Daimler to Test UBQ's Climate-positive Material". Waste360. 2020-01-22. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
  15. ^ Barrett, Axel (2021-08-09). "Origin Materials Gets USDA Certified Biobased Product Label". Bioplastics News. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
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