Plásticos Rimax, a Colombian converter founded in 1953 producing a range of different products has now opted to incorporate UBQ into its line of pet animal products. Already, some 25% of the materials processed by the company consist of recovered and recycled plastics, but the use of organic waste-based UBQ, manufactured in Israel by UBQ Materials, is a further step towards circularity. The new products will initially be available in Colombia and then rolled out globally.
Rimax is the first producer to incorporate UBQ into pet products. The products themselves include large and mid-size doghouses and hooded cat litter boxes, and carry the new ‘Made with UBQ’ mark to empower consumers to make more sustainable purchasing decisions.
“The new 'Made with UBQ' mark distinguishes Rimax in the market, indicating to consumers that their products replace oil-based resins, in part, with material made from landfill or incineration-destined waste,” said Jack ‘Tato’ Bigio, co-CEO and cofounder of UBQ Materials.
The products are available online and from retailers in Latin America such as Home Center in Colombia and Home Depot Mexico.
UBQ is a novel thermoplastic material that is suitable for processing with other materials using conventional technologies.
“After successfully piloting a line of pet items ‘Made with UBQ,’ we made the manufacturing decision to introduce UBQ™ across our entire pet line because loving animals goes hand in hand with caring for the planet,” said Elsa Coello Costa, Communication and Digital Marketing Manager at Rimax. “With our initial launch in Colombia, we anticipate a methodical expansion throughout Latin America.”
By substituting oil-based plastics with UBQ, Rimax is diverting up to 1.3 kg of waste and preventing up to 11.7 kg of CO₂-equivalent emissions for every kg of UBQ used in its products.