UBQ Materials
| File:UBQ Materials company logo.jpg | |
| Founded | 2012 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | Mike Thaman (CEO) Jack (Tato) Bigio (Co-Founder) Yehuda Pearl (Co-Founder) |
| Website | ubqmaterials |
UBQ Materials is a cleantech process manufacturer of bio-based thermoplastic composite for reuse in the manufacturing of substitute plastics and durable products.[1]
History
UBQ Materials was founded in 2012 by Jack (Tato) Bigio and Yehuda Pearl. UBQ has raised $27 million in private investments from Battery Ventures and EASME. The company's operations include offices in Tel Aviv, Israel, and a manufacturing plant in Kibbutz Tze'elim in the Negev area of southern Israel. The patented UBQ product and manufacturing process was developed between 2012 and 2017. In 2018, commercial production commenced. In March 2020, the company named Mike Thaman, former chairman and chief executive officer of Owens Corning, as its chief executive officer.[2][3]
Technology
Waste conversion technology produces thermoplastic pellets as an alternative to oil-based resources that are traditionally used in plastics manufacturing.[4][5] Waste conversion technology extracts metal, glass, minerals, cardboard and paper for further recycling. Household food waste, paper, cardboard and dirty plastics are dried and milled into a powder and reconstituted into a plastic-like composite. The resulting pellets are integrated with standard plastic pellets by conventional plastics manufacturers to create substitute plastic materials.[6]
Production Process
The raw materials of the process are organic materials and mixed plastics.[5] Each stream is broken down to its core components. Residual solid municipal waste (fabrics, paper, cardboard and mixed plastics) and organic waste (food waste and paper) typically comprising about 70% of feedstock weight, is broken down to its particulate components - lignin, cellulose, fibers, and sugars - then reassembled and bound together into a matrix to create a thermoplastic composite material in pellet or powder form.[6] During production, minimal energy and no water are used thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and residual waste by-products. For every ton of material produced, the process prevents the equivalent of 3-30 tons of CO2 from being created by keeping waste from decomposing in landfills.[7]
Application
Bio-based thermoplastic material is used in injection, compression molding, extrusion and 3D printing, and is compatible with PP, PE, PLA, and PVC.[6] It typically has concentrations[clarification needed] of 30% to 100%.[8] It may be compounded with additives to modify coloration, impact strength, and UV resistance.[9]
Partnerships
State of Virginia
In August 2019, the Virginia Waste Management Authority was the first U.S. company to purchase waste containers made of bio-based thermoplastic material.[10]
McDonald's
In November 2019, fast-food chain McDonald's Latin America franchisee Arcos Dorados integrated climate positive product materials into its Latin America restaurants and supply chains.[11]
Daimler AG
In January 2020, German automotive manufacturer Daimler AG began testing bio-based thermoplatsic materials for use in production of vehicle passenger cabins and outer vehicle plastic parts.[12]
References
- ^ Morrison, Jim; Kordova, Shoshana (2019-11-18). "Revolutionary recycling? A new technology turns everyday trash into plastic treasure". Washington Post.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Fortune 500 CEO to scale Israeli waste-to-plastic solution globally". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
- ^ "Mike Thaman | UBQ Materials". UBQ™ Material - Waste to Sustainable Material. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
- ^ Lazarus, Jeremy M. (2019-09-06). "Israeli company introduces recycling bins for CVWMA made from recycled waste". richmondfreepress.com. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "Israeli firm says it can turn garbage into bio-based plastic". AP NEWS. 2018-03-22. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
- ^ a b c Kosciulek, Samara Abramson, Mark Abadi, Amelia. "Investors are pouring billions into the alternative plastics industry — and these companies are racing to deliver". Business Insider. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Press, Associated (2018-03-22). "Trash company boasts its new technology will make landfills obsolete". New York Post. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
- ^ "UBQ Materials". GIE. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
- ^ "Israel-Based UBQ Materials is Turning Garbage into Recyclable Plastic". Waste360. 2020-05-07. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
- ^ Solomon, Shoshanna. "Central Virginians to put out their recycling in Israeli plastic-substitute bins". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
- ^ "Bloomberg". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
- ^ Etsion, Udi (2020-01-21). "Israel's Trash Could Be Mercedes' Treasure". CTECH - www.calcalistech.com. Retrieved 2020-08-20.