UBQ
UBQ™ is a circular material converted from 100% unsorted household waste that is diverted from landfill and incineration– It utilises everything from food residues, mixed plastics to cardboard and paper.
Production process
The patented UBQ conversion process starts with the receipt of residual solid municipal waste, i.e. landfill-destined waste previously considered unrecyclable. 100% unsorted household waste like food residues, mixed plastics, cardboard, paper, and even dirty diapers are collected. UBQ’s advanced waste conversion technology breaks them down to their basic particulate constructs—lignin, cellulose, fibres, and sugars—and then reassembles them into a matrix. Metals and minerals having high recyclability are removed and sent to traditional recycling streams. The remaining mixed plastics are melted and attached into the matrix to create UBQ™, a composite thermoplastic material.
Material properties
Working seamlessly with today’s current manufacturing processes, UBQ™ is used as a replacement for oil-based plastics without additional adaptation costs. From injection to compression moulding through to extrusion, UBQ™ is compatible with PP, PE, PLA, and PVC in manufacturing rigid and durable plastic products. Like with any other polymer, virgin or recycled, UBQ™ can be used on its own or compounded with additives commonly used in the industry to address product specifications such as colouration, impact strength or UV resistance.
UBQ™ finds applications in construction, automotive, logistics, retail, and includes industry leaders such as Mainetti (garment hangers), Mercedes-Benz (car parts), McDonald’s (food trays), PepsiCo (shipping pallets and POS displays), ABinBev (crates), Rimax (pet products), among others.
Availability
Made in Tel Aviv, Israel and available globally
Circular features
Unlike recycling, which requires a sophisticated infrastructure of separating and sorting into homogenous waste streams, UBQ uses waste in a single, heterogeneous stream. Further contributing to its circularity, the process requires no binders or additives. The waste conversion process was designed to be highly energy efficient (using significantly less energy than oil-based plastics), uses no water and produces zero effluents or fumes. UBQ™ is UL 2809 certified for containing 100% recycled content and is fully recyclable at the end of life. Every ton of UBQ™ diverts approximately 1.3 tons of waste from landfill and incinerators and prevents up to 11.7 tons of CO2eq emissions (GWP20). In addition, products made with UBQ™ can be recycled conventionally.
Raw Materials
100% of household waste is used as feedstock. That includes everything from food residues and unrecyclable plastics to cardboard, paper to even used diapers.
Afterlife Plan
As dictated by circular economy requirements, UBQ™ can be looped back into its original material value to be utilized again and again. Internal testing has found that, unlike existing oil-based resins, UBQ™ material can be recycled many times without losing its physical properties.
Supplier
Image source: www.ubqmaterials.com/
