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Clean Tech company UBQ Materials converts household waste into climate-positive material
Our tenant, UBQ Materials, has applied for planning permission to build its first production facility in the Netherlands.
More than two billion tonnes of waste are produced around the world each year. In order to contribute to a sustainable processing of this huge waste mountain, UBQ Materials has developed a method to convert waste into a valuable alternative raw material for the plastics processing industry. The globally patented process ensures that household waste that would otherwise end up in landfill or an incinerator is converted into UBQ, a sustainable thermoplastic material. UBQ is used separately or in combination with traditional materials such as wood, concrete or plastic for the production of thousands of everyday consumer products. This considerably reduces or even neutralizes the climate footprint of these end products. The conversion process is energy-efficient and clean, without producing harmful sludge, waste water or emissions.
The Dutch government has promised to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55 per cent by 2030, to below the level of 1990. Together with the other member states of the European Union, the Netherlands is aiming to be carbon neutral by 2050. The acceleration of sustainability initiatives is being supported in various ways, such as through multilateral climate funds including the Green Climate Fund and the Global Environment Facility. One of the main priorities is sustainable processing of household waste to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
With the construction of the UBQ production facility in Bergen op Zoom, the Israeli company is contributing to the Dutch government’s efforts to achieve its sustainability targets. The production of UBQ means that waste will be sustainably processed, and in this way will prevent methane emissions, groundwater pollution and other forms of negative environmental impact.
Working closely with the provincial and municipal authorities, the Israeli company is aiming to open the 25,000-m2 production facility, with an expected annual production of 73,000 tonnes of UBQ, by the end of 2022. The facility will enable UBQ Materials to create between 200 and 250 jobs in the region.
UBQ Materials hopes to expand this initiative further in the Netherlands in the future.
