UBQ Materials

UBQ Materials is an Israeli-based certified B organization that uses an advanced patented conversion technology to transform unsorted household waste into “UBQ,” a sustainable resin substitute. The company claims that UBQ is the world’s first bio-based thermoplastic that is made entirely out of unsorted waste, such as food residues, mixed plastics, cardboard, paper, and diapers. The company’s material is utilized in industries including the automotive and consumer industries to produce durable products. In January 2024, the company unveiled a sustainability product portfolio that includes three bio-based material replacements (25% and higher UBQ-based material) and sustainability additives (10% to 30% UBQ-based material), along with two modifiers.

As of December 2021, UBQ operates a plant in Israel with a capacity to produce one ton of UBQ materials per hour. The company plans to construct a new facility in the Netherlands to go operational by Q4 2022.

Key customers and partnerships

UBQ’s customer portfolio includes leading companies such as Daimler (Mercedes-Benz) and Arcos Dorados (franchisee of McDonald’s restaurants across Latin America). To target a range of industries, the company partnered with Polyram Group , an Israeli thermoplastic compounds manufacturer, to incorporate UBQ’s sustainable bio-based material into Polyram’s thermoplastic production for use in automotive applications and beyond.. UBQ Materials has also entered into a product partnership with Plastics App (a leader in applicative innovation in the field of plastics & polymers), expanding its product scope to develop and launch a 3D printing filament with UBQ materials . UBQ Materials also announced a pilot project with AmBev , to develop sustainable packaging solutions for AmBev’s beverage products. The company further expanded the application of UBQ by partnering with Teknor Apex to supply the material for the latter’s line of sustainable thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) and with Polymertal to produce a carbon-friendly and sustainable metal-polymer material. In December 2023, the company partnered with Keter to increase the use of UBQ's sustainable resin alternative across multiple Keter product lines.

Funding and financials

UBQ Materials raised USD 70 million in funding led by Eden Global Partners in September 2023. Previously the company had also raised USD 170 million in funding led by TPG Rise Climate (TPG Group’s climate investing fund) in December 2021.