Sustainable Plastic Startup Wins Award For Work With US Firm

UBQ Materials, an Israeli company that takes household waste and converts it into a bio-based plastic substitute, has won the Plug and Play Sustainability Award at this year’s STARTUP AUTOBAHN EXPO for its partnership with American-based automotive supplier Maxion Wheels. 

UBQ makes durable plastics from 100 percent unsorted household waste that cannot be recycled (food waste, unrecyclable plastics, dirty cardboard) and uses it in applications across industries including retail, logistics, furniture, construction and automotive.

UBQ’s materials decrease the landfilling of waste, preventing methane emissions and curtailing the leakage of toxic substances into the soil.

STARTUP AUTOBAHN EXPO, Europe’s top open innovation platform for startups and companies advancing the mobility industry, recognized UBQ’s contribution to the automotive sector through its innovative sustainable plastic pallets and separators used by Maxion. 

“There are clear opportunities for the implementation of sustainable, advanced materials across applications in the automotive industry,” said Sophie Tuviahu, UBQ Materials Vice President of Sales and Business Development. 

“Building on previous collaborations with the automotive industry, this partnership demonstrates how sustainability can be built into every aspect of the sector from consumer-facing products through to supply chain, logistics and behind-the-scenes operations.”

UBQ recently partnered with luxury vehicle company Mercedes-Benz and global sustainable compound manufacturing companies Teknor Apex and Polyram. 

The company is expanding to its new facility in the Netherlands this year that will convert 104,600 metric tons of annual waste into new raw material. 

“Sustainable materials like UBQ have the potential to significantly reduce our carbon footprint and drive the transformation towards a more sustainable automotive industry,” said Dr. Saul Reichman, Global Director Innovation and Corporate Venturing at Maxion Wheels.