As market demand for more sustainable materials continues to expand, more and more companies are working to create sustainable solutions that are financially and functionally competitive in today’s marketplace.
This latest announcement comes from Israel-based UBQ Materials and the US-headquartered thermoplastics compounder, Teknor Apex, who have collaborated over the past year on the development of a series of TPEs incorporating various levels of UBQ’s patented UBQ material and post-consumer recycled raw materials,
A certified B Corp, UBQ Materials produces UBQ, a sustainable plastic substitute, from unsorted municipal solid waste, including all organics, that has been diverted from landfills. The material, with its climate-positive impact and cost-competitive price, has already been used to manufacture durable products with reduced environmental footprints by numerous brands in various industries. It is, however, the first time that UBQ will be incorporated into TPE compounds. As the preferred material for applications requiring flexibility in the consumer products, automotive, industrial, and building and construction industries, TPEs combine the performance of thermoset rubber with the processability of a thermoplastic - and they can be recycled. Teknor Apex produces a broad range of TPEs consisting of formulations specifically designed to meet market requirements for physical and thermal performance.
“Incorporating UBQ into our TPEs, we are introducing the market to a new TPE option that is both cost-competitive and better for the planet,” said Jonathan Plisco, New Business Development Manager of Teknor Apex. “Manufacturers can become a part of the waste solution by incorporating sustainable materials that divert waste and preserve finite natural resources.”
The first new TPE compounds are due to become available this year.