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JANUARY 24, 2022, TEL AVIV, Israel – UBQ Materials, cleantech developer of advanced materials made from waste, announced today that Israel’s Minister of Environmental Protection, Tamar Zandberg, visited the UBQ Materials production facility in Kibbutz Tse’elim in the Negev, where the company produces and exports its climate-positive thermoplastic material made entirely from the household waste of Israeli residents.
Galit Cohen, Director General of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and other professionals from the Ministry of Environmental Protection also participated in the site visit.
UBQ Materials offers a solution to a growing global problem; every year the world produces more than 2 billion tons of household waste, the majority of which is unrecyclable and sent to landfills, incineration or is dumped in open natural spaces. In addition to the many well-documented natural hazards of landfill waste, it is also the third largest cause of anthropogenic methane emissions.
UBQ Materials’ patented conversion technology is able to process the entirety of unsorted household waste: plastics, paper, cardboard, all organics, and even dirty diapers. This heterogeneous waste stream is broken down into its basic molecular components and reconstituted into a matrix for a consistently homogeneous new raw material. Each ton of UBQ™ produced, diverts 1.3 tons of waste from landfills, and prevents up to 12 tons of CO₂ emissions over 20 years, making it the thermoplastic material with the lowest carbon footprint in the world.
Tato Bigio, co-founder and co-CEO of UBQ Materials, presented Minister Zandberg with the development and global plans for the company since completing a funding round of $170 million last month.
“As a company that prides itself in our Israeli roots, we believe that partnering with Israeli governmental institutions can lead to a local success story of a circular economy and set an example for the rest of the world,” said Bigio.
The company supplies its sustainable raw material to leading brands in automotive, logistics, construction, retail and even 3D printing industries. Its customers include global giants such as Mercedes-Benz, Keter Plastic, Carmel Olefins of the Bazan Group, and the world’s largest franchisee of McDonald’s restaurants.
During the visit, Minister Zanderberg said, “In an era of climate crisis where the entire world must transition to a circular economy, here is a solution serving dual purposes. On the one hand, UBQ reduces waste being landfilled, and on the other hand, introduces a new resource through a process that does not pollute the environment. Green technologies play a significant role in battling the climate crisis; Israeli innovation can and should be a world leader in this field.”
About UBQ Materials
UBQ Materials Ltd. has developed an advanced conversion technology, patenting the world’s first bio-based thermoplastic (UBQ™) made entirely of unsorted household waste, including all the organics; a revolutionary way to divert municipal solid waste from landfills and convert it into a sustainable substitute for oil-based plastics. A certified B Corp, UBQ is a globally awarded cleantech company with customers including Mercedes-Benz, global retail solutions provider Mainetti, and Arcos Dorados, the world’s largest franchisee of McDonald’s restaurants across Latin America.
With a climate-positive impact and cost-competitive price, UBQ™ empowers manufacturers with a simple transition to greater sustainability. Learn more by visiting UBQMaterials.com.
Media Contact
Nicole Kaufman Grubner
929-588-2011
nicole.grubner@finnpartners.com
