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Who is UBQ Materials?
Humans produce more than 2 billion tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) annually, and this number is expected to double in the next 30 years. Landfills have long been the end destination for MSW, posing a host of issues, from groundwater leaching to the emission of methane and other toxins. Every year, 1.6 billion tons of CO2eq emissions are generated from solid waste. Methane and other toxic GHGs produced by organic materials and biodegradable plastics decomposing in landfills are 86 times more potent than CO2. When less than 13% of all waste is recycled, the challenge is clear. How do we develop a solution that fixes a broken recycling system where waste is seen as a liability rather than a sustainable resource? Is there a way to take unsorted landfill-bound MSW and use it as a solution to resource depletion?
For quite some time, the untapped potential of trash has been a focus of environmentalists who believe the linear economy model of disposable products is no longer sustainable. They envision instead a circular economy in which resources are maximized and waste minimized. UBQ is founded on the idea that garbage like banana peels, dirty diapers, milk containers, and plastic straws can be a valuable commodity in a circular economy. By utilizing such “unwanted” feedstock, UBQ™ prevents significant amounts of emissions, enabling manufacturers to lower their carbon footprint and meet their sustainability goals while providing a novel renewable resource that can substitute oil-based plastics.
UBQ is a scientific breakthrough that transforms unsorted household waste, including 100% of all organics, into the most climate-positive thermoplastic material on the market. Our patented advanced waste conversion technology breaks down and combines virtually all household waste, converting it into a new, raw material to make everyday goods. For every ton of UBQ™ produced, 11.7 tons of CO2eq are prevented from polluting the environment, leading sustainability and LCA auditors Quantis to designate UBQ™ as ‘The Most Climate Positive Thermoplastic Material on the Market’. UBQ™ is a drop-in material that is compatible with today’s standard manufacturing processes. From injection to compression molding through to extrusion, the UBQ™ material has been tested and proven to be compatible with PP, PE, PLA, and PVC. Like with any other polymer, virgin or recycled, UBQ™ can be compounded with additives commonly used in the industry to address product specifications such as coloration, impact strength or UV resistance.
UBQ’s mission is clear and this is only the beginning. The higher the demand for sustainable raw materials, the more UBQ facilities around the world, the lower the carbon footprint of product transportation, and the more waste can be diverted from local landfills. Follow Tato Bigio, Co-Founder and Co-CEO at UBQ Materials, while he shares the vision and mission of the company with a tour of the UBQ facility:
