Tel Aviv–based UBQ Materials announced today a partnership with Polymertal, a developer of hybrid plastic-metal parts headquartered in Haifa, Israel. Polymertal will use UBQ’s sustainable thermoplastic, converted from unsorted plastic waste that would otherwise end up in landfills, in its new SPP-50XX material with metallic properties.

Polymertal’s SPP-50XX comprises 20% UBQ and 80% polypropylene. Metal plating composed of copper and nickel in varying thicknesses is placed on top of the plastic substrate, resulting in a lightweight part that exhibits key metallic properties, including durability, stiffness, heat resistance, and electromagnetic shielding, according to Polymertal. Applications include automotive, industrial, and consumer products.

The inclusion of UBQ in the SPP-50XX base substrate reduces its carbon footprint. Compared with aluminum, for example, it reportedly achieves roughly a 50% reduction in CO₂ emissions, as verified by World Watchers, a German organization that says it adapted the “proven WeightWatchers concept to climate protection.”

“Countless applications require materials that are lightweight, withstand high-temperature environments, and are thermally and electrically conductive,” said Polymertal CEO Ran Carmeli. “SPP-50XX exhibits all these features, and the presence of UBQ brings sustainability earlier in the supply chain, making it even easier for manufacturers to reduce the overall carbon footprint of their end products,” said Carmeli.

Founded in 2012, UBQ describes its product as a sustainable plastic substitute converted entirely from unsorted municipal solid waste, including all organics, that has been diverted from landfills. The proprietary process incorporates a form of chemical recycling. The resulting material is compatible with injection and compression molding, extrusion, and 3D printing, according to the company.