UBQ Materials, a global leader in producing advanced materials from waste, announced on September 30, 2024, that it has secured a €5 million grant from the Just Transition Fund (JTF). This fund is designed to mitigate the socio-economic impacts of the shift towards climate neutrality by supporting economic diversification, creating new business opportunities, and assisting workers in adapting to evolving labor markets.

The company plans to use the grant to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of its industrial-scale facility in Bergen op Zoom. This facility has the capacity to convert 104,600 tons of municipal solid waste annually from end-of-life sites into 80,000 tons of its environmentally friendly bio-based thermoplastic composite, known as UBQ™. Gerwin Drent, Finance Manager and project leader at UBQ Materials, emphasized that the innovative technology transforms mixed municipal waste, which would otherwise be sent to landfills or incinerators, into a sustainable composite that can replace conventional plastics in various durable and semi-durable applications.

The funding will enable UBQ to accelerate the implementation of solutions that maintain or reduce energy usage while increasing production output—a vital advancement for the company. UBQ's waste conversion process first removes any minerals, metals, and glass before breaking down organic material into its fundamental components. The patented process operates at a maximum temperature of 200 degrees Celsius, making it more energy-efficient than traditional chemical recycling methods, which require significantly higher temperatures to break down polymer bonds.

The Bergen op Zoom facility runs entirely on locally sourced renewable electricity and reuses heat generated during production. With a portion of the JTF grant, UBQ plans to implement an energy monitoring system to assess how to boost output while maintaining energy efficiency. By 2025, UBQ expects to create 140 new jobs in the local economy, including positions for individuals with physical and speech disabilities.

In addition to enhancing the sustainability and efficiency of the Bergen op Zoom facility, part of the grant will also be allocated for the development of UBQ's product portfolio. Earlier this year, the company introduced a comprehensive range of sustainable products, including additives and material replacements for the building, consumer durables, retail, logistics, and automotive sectors. UBQ aims to expand its offerings to meet the rising demand for sustainable materials that comply with performance and sustainability standards, thus promoting a circular economy.

Drent highlighted that concrete and asphalt production is a significant source of pollution in the construction industry. UBQ is actively developing alternative construction materials, including modified bitumen membranes for roofing, which can substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions when applied at scale.