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What is the Solar Impulse Foundation and its #1000 Solutions Label?
The Solar Impulse Foundation is an environmental non-profit established in 2003 by Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, in partnership with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne. Solar Impulse’s Efficient Solution Label is an assessment tool for clean and profitable solutions. It’s granted to companies that focus on protecting the environment in a profitable way. The label brings exposure to existing solutions and is only awarded after a rigorous assessment by external independent experts.
Selection criteria are guided by three themes:
- Feasibility, which calls for the manufacturing of a product at scale to be technically feasible.
- Environment, which requires the solution to deliver an incremental environmental benefit vs. a mainstream alternative.
- Profitability, which demonstrates the product’s economic benefits, such as the total cost of ownership.
Our bio-based, thermoplastic composite, UBQ™, is made from mixed household waste destined for landfills or incinerators. Through our patented technology, the organic waste is used in its entirety and broken into its basic building blocks. Inorganic materials are then bound to this matrix, reconstructing them into a new bio-based thermoplastic composite, UBQ™. The resulting material is a patented homogeneous composite that can be replicated time and time again. Every kilogram of UBQ tablets produced diverts 1.5 kilograms of household waste.
The biobased raw material exemplifies the Solar Impulse Foundation’s ideology that “from a victim of pollution, you become an actor of change.”
Bertrand Piccard’s Vision for a Sustainable Present
Bertrand Piccard, the visionary behind the Solar Impulse Foundation, believes that sustainability challenges and economic growth can coexist. With a focus on practical, scalable solutions, Piccard aims to shift the conversation from dreaming of a cleaner future to creating a sustainable present. Through the Solar Impulse Foundation, he supports clean technologies that promote environmental responsibility while delivering economic benefits, making it possible for policymakers and businesses to adopt green practices that also support growth.
The Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label: A Platform for Clean and Profitable Innovation
The Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label is awarded to over 1,000 clean, profitable technologies that meet strict criteria for environmental impact and economic viability. This label serves as a tool for decision-makers, offering a suite of viable options to help them implement ambitious policies and meet sustainability goals. By recognizing these solutions, the Solar Impulse Foundation amplifies innovations that have the power to reshape industries and inspire change.
What Does the Solar Impulse Label Represent?
The Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label serves as a mark of environmental innovation and profitability, highlighting innovative solutions that are both environmentally sustainable and economically viable. This label is awarded to products, services, and processes that demonstrate superior environmental and financial performance, outperforming conventional options in their market.
How Does It Work?
The label is granted following a rigorous evaluation by external, independent experts. Through carefully developed selection criteria, the Solar Impulse Label has gained international recognition and endorsement from institutions, governments, and cities worldwide, solidifying its status as a trusted mark of sustainability and profitability.
Key Benefits of the Solar Impulse Label
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Membership in the World Alliance for Efficient Solutions | Membership connects companies with a network of like-minded innovators dedicated to efficient, sustainable technologies. |
| Increased Visibility and Support | Labeled solutions receive exposure and advocacy support, helping members communicate the value of their solutions to global audiences. |
| Credibility through Independent Assessment | Each solution is rigorously evaluated by independent experts, ensuring that every labeled technology meets high standards for sustainability. |
Why UBQ’s Affiliation with the Solar Impulse Foundation Is Beneficial
UBQ’s Alignment with Solar Impulse Goals
UBQ’s innovative technology, which converts waste destined for landfills or incinerators into a bio-based thermoplastic, embodies the Solar Impulse Foundation’s philosophy of turning pollution into opportunity. This process provides a circular solution that supports the Solar Impulse Foundation’s goals of sustainability and economic viability, demonstrating that planet-friendly innovations can also drive business growth.
Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
UBQ’s technology contributes to multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure – Building resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – Ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns.
- SDG 13: Climate Action – Taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
- SDG 14: Life Below Water – Conserving and sustainably using oceans, seas, and marine resources.
- SDG 15: Life on Land – Protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.
- SDG 17: Partnership for the Goals – Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.
These contributions align UBQ’s mission with global sustainability objectives, affirming its commitment to creating solutions with a positive impact.
Benefits of UBQ’s Solar Impulse Label
- Validation and Recognition
- Rigorous Assessment: UBQ’s technology has passed an independent, multi-criteria evaluation that confirms its feasibility, environmental benefits, and profitability.
- Global Credibility: The Solar Impulse label positions UBQ as a recognized, certified solution for climate change and waste reduction, making it an attractive option for industries seeking sustainable alternatives.
- Enhanced Visibility and Policy Support
- Increased Exposure: UBQ gains a platform to showcase its waste-to-material technology to international stakeholders, including policymakers, investors, and potential collaborators.
- Influence on Policy: Affiliation with Solar Impulse enables UBQ to play a role in advocating for eco-friendly policies and encouraging broader adoption of sustainable materials.
- Significant Environmental Impact
- Advancing the Circular Economy: UBQ’s waste-to-material process exemplifies a circular economy model, converting waste into a valuable resource and helping companies reduce their reliance on conventional plastics.
UBQ Materials and the Solar Impulse Foundation invite companies, policymakers, and stakeholders to explore and support #1000Solutions. By adopting these innovations, businesses and governments can help build a world where sustainability and profitability work hand in hand, contributing to a cleaner, greener planet.
