ENERGY GLOBE
Israel

WINNER:
UBQ Materials Ltd.

With the Project:
UBQ™ - a climate-positive plastic

UBQ Materials Limited developed an advanced conversion technology that transforms household waste into the greenest thermoplastic material on the market. This aims at reducing greenhouse gases emissions, enabling manufacturers reducing their carbon footprint while providing a novel renewable resource for the plastics industry.

INITIAL SITUATION

Waste in Israel is not separated or recycled and landfills have been the end destination for municipal solid waste. This poses many issues starting from groundwater leakage to emission of methane and other toxins. Methane and other toxic greenhouse gases that are more potent than carbon are produced by organic materials and biodegradable plastics from decomposing in landfills, which is a threat to the population and the climate.

SOLUTION

UBQ's conversion process was developed to have zero negative impact on the environment, with a relatively small amount of energy and no production of waste, effluents or use of water. UBQ Materials uses the entire waste stream requiring no separation, except for metals and minerals which have high recycling values. By taking organic materials that would otherwise end up in landfills, UBQ Materials prevents the emission of methane, groundwater leakage and other toxins.

INNOVATION

UBQ created a climate-positive thermoplastic material that is cost-competitive. During the conversion process, the organic trash is broken down to its particulate constructs like lignin, cellulose, fibers and sugars and is then reassembled and bound together into a matrix. The mixed plastics constituting the remaining 20-30% are melt and bonded into the matrix to create a novel composite thermoplastic material. The energy-efficient, patented process does not rely on water or produce harmful emissions.