The company turning waste into car parts
The co-founder of a business offsetting the carbon footprint of everyday products for the likes of McDonald’s and Mercedes-Benz explains why the environment is everything
An Israeli clean technology company that turns household waste into eco-friendly material has partnered with Mercedes-Benz to create parts that are used in the exterior and interior of its vehicles.
UBQ Materials also supplies its material to manufacture thermoplastic trays for the world’s largest independent McDonald’s franchisee, Arcos Dorados, with restaurants in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Founded in 2012, UBQ Materials takes unsorted household waste and converts it into a fully recyclable substitute for oil-based plastics, wood and concrete. The material, UBQ™, can be used to manufacture thousands of products and has already been adopted by global brands in automotive, retail, consumer products, construction and various other industries. Most recently, it is featured throughout the new VISION EQXX, Mercedes-Benz’s all-electric vehicle.
“The demand for alternatives to conventional raw materials has never been higher,” says Tato Bigio, co-founder and co-CEO of UBQ Materials. “At the core of UBQ is a fierce desire to change the meaning of waste in today’s world”
“As we become more conscious of environmental preservation and climate impact, the mystery of where all our trash ends up becomes a more haunting question. Seeing it pile up in the Earth’s oceans, in public spaces, in ever-growing landfills, is simply unacceptable.”
Bigio says that, until recently, attempts to transition away from a linear model of disposal and towards a circular model were only partially effective. “Closing the loop on billions of tonnes of municipal trash is a tall order, so we were never interested in cutting corners.”
UBQ carried out nearly seven years of stealth mode testing, earning certifications and credentials, engaging with the scientific community to create a clean, efficient and competitive technology. “So, by the time we went to market, we knew we were addressing the issue from start to finish at the highest standards.”
Today, UBQ works with companies and brands including Mainetti, Mercedes-Benz, Motherson and Keter, as well as other large global brands responsible for thousands of everyday products.
While UBQ is not approved for direct food contact, it has a wide array of uses in the food industry, including trays, shopping carts, baskets, bins, crates and various products related to logistics. The company recently announced it would be running a pilot for shipping pallets with PepsiCo, one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies.
UBQ Materials plans to expand into Europe with a new large-scale plant in the Netherlands.
How does the conversion process work?
“After receiving the waste and sorting out metals and minerals that are sent to recycling, we run it through a refinement process in preparation for the conversion process,” he explains.
“At this stage, the waste becomes the ‘feedstock’ for our patented reaction process, which breaks it down to its more basic natural components. At the particle level, these natural components, such as sugars, cellulose, lining and various natural fibres, will form the building blocks of the novel UBQTM thermoplastic composite matrix.”
Bigio has more than 25 years of experience in international business development and financing for leading Israeli companies in the industrial and renewable energy sectors. He co-founded and managed Merhav Renewable Energies (MRE), where he developed and implemented large-scale wind, solar and bioethanol projects around the world.
Before the 2008 sale of MRE, Bigio served as the president and CEO of Ampal-American Israel Corporation, an investment company traded on the NASDAQ and the Tel Aviv stock exchanges. He is a long-standing member of the Board of the Israel-America Chamber of Commerce & Industry and holds an MBA and BA in business from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Bigio believes “cleantech” will shape the future for a sustainable world and bridge the gap to a truly working circular economy. “We’re proud to provide the material but, when it comes to forging a more sustainable future, industry itself will be the driver of change.”
He adds: “Time is against us in the race against climate change. At the same time, we have never been more equipped to fight against it. Whether imposed externally (through legislated mandates) or internally (through sustainability development goals), the responsibility to lead the change has shifted towards industry.
“Manufacturers across the board have the opportunity to set new benchmarks by meeting net zero goals and maximising transparency into operations. McDonalds, PepsiCo, Mercedes-Benz and other international OEM [original equipment manufacturer]’s, brands, and compounders are already implementing these changes along their value chain. We look forward to more companies joining the fold.”
How long before all brands are traditional plastic-free? “Plastic consumption and demand show no signs of waning, so the bigger issue is where, and in what form, these products end. Instead of fighting a losing battle against their existence, we need to address their end of life.”
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