Israeli startup UBQ Materials plans to triple its workforce in anticipation of opening its first large-scale facility in Bergen op Zoom in the Netherlands, which reportedly will divert 104,600 tonnes of unrecyclable household waste annually.
UBQ is described as a sustainable plastic substitute converted entirely from unsorted municipal solid waste, including all organics. 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.
UBQ Materials works with global leaders across industries, including automaker Mercedes Benz, PepsiCo, Anheuser Busch, and McDonalds, providing its climate-positive material in place of conventional plastic to reduce the carbon footprint of supply chains and support the transition to a circular economy.
UBQ Materials is recruiting 140 full-time employees, 80 of whom will serve in operator roles at the company’s new state-of-the-art lab and material production facility, which will become operational this year. Aligning with the UBQ Materials Triple Impact Plan on the region’s waste, business, and material ecosystems, UBQ’s long-term contracts offer both growth and stability across blue- and white-collar careers in the burgeoning green-tech industry, said the company.
“West Brabant wants to be a leader in the transition to the new economy. When it comes to the raw materials transition, UBQ is a prime example of a leader driving this transition, making the company a circular asset for Bergen op Zoom,” said Dominique Hopmans, Alderman of Economic Affairs in Bergen op Zoom.
The UBQ Materials facility is located in the Brabant region, considered “the plastic belt” of the Netherlands. With the support of the municipality, UBQ’s industrial-scale facility and research and development lab will help transform the region into a clean tech hub.
“The manufacturing industry has an opportunity to positively impact the world by transitioning to a new standard of sustainable materials and becoming a driving force for the circular economy,” said Jack ‘Tato’ Bigio, co-CEO and co-founder of UBQ Materials. “The Brabant region is well known for being at the forefront of innovation. We are inviting professionals to bring their knowledge and experience to UBQ and be part of the sustainable future of manufacturing.”
