Berlin, Germany (26 March 2021)—INAM, the Innovation Network for Advanced Materials, is pleased to announce UBQ as their newest startup member.
“A scientific breakthrough, UBQ™ is a material solution that can tackle challenges of the future and help fight climate change, today,” said Liat Arad, UBQ’s VP of Marketing. “We certainly can't do it alone. The scale of impact that UBQ has on the world is dependent on our partnerships and the demand for climate positive materials. We are proud to be a part of the diverse INAM community, so that we can work together to create new standards for sustainable manufacturing.”
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 leakage 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 only 9% of plastic waste ever produced has been recycled, the challenge is clear. 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™ sequesters significant amounts of emissions, enabling manufacturers to offset and even reverse their carbon footprint while providing a novel renewable resource for the plastics, wood, minerals and concrete industries.
UBQ is a scientific breakthrough that transforms household waste into the greenest thermoplastic material on the market. With UBQ, manufacturers can finally create products that positively impact our environment without compromising profitability. UBQ™ is a drop-in material that is compatible with today’s standard manufacturing processes. Their patented advanced waste conversion technology breaks down and combines virtually all household waste, converting it into a new, raw material to make everyday goods. By taking organic materials that would otherwise end up in landfills, UBQ Materials prevents the emission of methane, groundwater leakage and other toxins. 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 fully recyclable material. As dictated by circular economy requirements, it is capable of being looped back into its original material value, to be utilized over and over. Unlike existing oil-based resins, UBQ™ material can be recycled many more times without losing its physical properties.
Working seamlessly with today’s current manufacturing processes, UBQ™ can be used as a replacement for synthetic plastics without additional adaptation costs. 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 competitive advantage is its ability to provide long-term fixed prices regardless of market volatility, all while bringing a powerful environmental value proposition. In the short term, UBQ intends to open commercial facilities globally, starting with a large-scale facility in the Netherlands, set to begin operations by 2022. 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.
"At INAM we believe that science plays a major role in sustainability,” said Antonia Caraveteanu, INAM’s Managing Director. “UBQ’s technology and approach on circular economy makes them a perfect fit for the network and we can’t wait to support them on their journey.”
About INAM
INAM, the Innovation Network for Advanced Materials, is a global network of companies and research institutes in the field of Advanced Materials. INAM’s goal is to enable the right connections and make technological innovations become reality by working closely with startups, SMEs, corporations and research institutes to start, grow and transform the development of Advanced Materials.
For more information visit: https://www.inam.berlin/