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The Economist USA Sustainability Week 2023 provided a forum for leading thinkers, innovators, and industry experts to debate and consider solutions to sustainability issues. The panel discussion, “Managing Plastics and Eliminating Plastic Waste in all Areas of Business,” featured eminent figures from several industries, including Albert Douer, Chairman and Co-CEO of UBQ Materials. Hosted by Senior Analyst, Martina Chow, the discussion presented circular solutions and stressed the shared responsibility between companies and customers in achieving climate goals.
Marcus Erickson from Five Gyres Institute emphasized the significance of designing products for circularity, keeping packaging, material sourcing and assemblage in mind. Anne Tracy, CSO at Colgate-Palmolive shared how the company’s sustainability strategy is centered on reducing plastic waste, creating circularity, and working towards the goal of eliminating plastic waste and becoming 100% recyclable by 2025. Tim Fitzgerald, CSO at American Seafoods highlighted the company’s goal to elevate sustainability and circularity in their product packaging without compromising safety and quality.
UBQ™ was mentioned as a climate-positive raw material that replaces oil-based plastics in multiple applications to advance a circular economy in manufacturing. Douer highlighted the importance of finding existing and scalable solutions to tackle the global plastic waste crisis while considering the broader scope of sustainability.
The dialogue concluded by highlighting the crucial role of effective communication and the necessity of adopting a mindset that values materials’ capacity to be reused rather than discarding them.
See clip of panel below:
Understanding the UBQ™ Technology
During the panel discussion, Douer shed light on the unique technology developed by UBQ Materials. This cutting-edge process allows the conversion of the entire waste stream, including food waste, mixed plastics, and soiled paper, into a novel, climate-positive material. By diverting waste from landfills and incinerators, UBQ Materials provides a sustainable alternative that can be integrated into diverse applications across industries.
How UBQ™ is Addressing the Challenges
Albert Douer emphasized the need for a multi-stakeholder approach to effectively manage plastics and eliminate plastic waste. UBQ Materials’ innovative technology provided a tangible example of how sustainable practices can be implemented in the business world. By utilizing the ground-breaking UBQ™ material, Douer demonstrated an existing solution that helps companies achieve their sustainability goals. As the event concluded, participants left with a strengthened commitment to implement sustainable practices and work towards a future free from waste.
