In our previous discussion with Jack (Tato) Bigio, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of UBQ Materials, we covered how their technology helps reduce methane emissions. Now, we focus on how UBQ Materials is advancing the circular economy.
UBQ Materials takes household waste—items that typically end up in landfills—and transforms them into valuable resources. This process is designed to integrate seamlessly with existing waste management systems, making it easy to adopt without significant changes. By converting waste into reusable materials, UBQ Materials supports transitioning from a traditional linear waste model, where products are used and discarded, to a circular model, where materials are continuously reused and recycled.
Q: Can you explain how the circular economy model applies to transforming food waste into new material resources? What are the key benefits of integrating this model into waste management practices?
JB: The circular economy model involves reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling existing materials and products as many times as possible. It means ensuring that our resources are used as efficiently as possible, as many times as possible. Traditionally, when we consider what is included in the circular economy model, we think of plastics, paper, cardboard, and other easier-to-recycle materials.
However, there’s no reason why that same model cannot apply to un-compostable food waste as well. UBQ’s process transforms food waste destined for landfill into a new material that can be recycled multiple times. By using food waste as a core resource, we are integrating waste that would otherwise decompose in landfills, creating methane emissions, into the circular economy model. By using food waste instead of fossil fuels as a material feedstock, we are removing and avoiding carbon emissions, reducing resource depletion, and improving the carbon footprint of everyday products.
Q: How does the technology developed by UBQ Materials integrate with existing waste management systems? What infrastructure or changes are necessary to implement this technology at scale?
JB: From the outset, UBQ was developed to complement and improve the waste management system. We would like to see consumption practices and waste management methods change for the sake of the planet and our children’s future. However, to make an impact today, we developed the technology and company to fit with the existing supply chain and waste management systems. We encourage consumers to reduce and reuse as much as possible and work with recyclers to extract recyclable materials from the waste feedstock.
We don’t compete with the system but complement it. UBQ fits in at the end of the line before the residuals go to landfills or incineration, taking this so-called residual “waste” that nobody wants and reintegrating it into the sustainable materials economy. Notably, UBQ-based materials are highly recyclable and designed to fit seamlessly into the recycling stream. For example, a McDonald’s tray made from UBQ material can be collected and recycled by the restaurant to create another tray or transformed into a different application.
Discover how UBQ Materials drives economic growth while reducing waste with Jack (Tato) Bigio. In part three of our discussion, learn about their successful implementations and the potential impact on regional and global scales.
