UBQ Materials, developer of advanced materials made from waste has announced that PepsiCo to expand its use of UBQ across its supply chain. The expansion to take place with the launch of PepsiCo’s eco-friendly Lay’s display stands, “Made with UBQ,” throughout Europe.
Following PepsiCo’s successful pilot incorporating UBQ to reduce the carbon footprint of shipping pallets, the company is deepening its collaboration with UBQ in additional categories across the supply chain. The new Lay’s Chips displays will be made in part with UBQ substituting conventional oil-based plastics.
UBQ is a bio-based thermoplastic, made from 100% unsorted household waste, including all organics. Use of UBQ diverts waste from landfills and incineration, preventing emissions from being released into the environment.
For every ton of UBQ produced, up to 12 tons of CO₂eq are prevented from polluting the environment.
Beyond the new product extension, PepsiCo has also expanded on the initial logistics pilot, ordering 30 thousand more shipping pallets made with UBQ. These pallets feature recycled PP resin and recycled BOPP, the plastic film used in the company’s snack packaging – to complete the circular economy cycle.David Schwartz, VP, PepsiCo Labs said, “Our goal is to transform our entire supply chain to tackle the sustainability challenges the world faces. UBQ Materials’ waste-based thermoplastic reduces landfill waste, prevents emissions, and takes us towards circularity, which is why we are working towards scaling use of UBQ globally.”
“We are putting sustainability and innovation at the heart of our operations. Achieving these goals is integral to the future of our business, our customers, our consumers and the planet,” added Schwartz.
PepsiCo’s technology venture arm, Pepsi Labs, identified UBQ Materials as an anchor solution supporting PepsiCo Positive (pep+) transformation, which places sustainability and human capital at the center of how it will create growth and value.
Albert Douer, Co-CEO and Chairman of UBQ Materials said, “We are eager to extend implementation of our advanced material into new products and markets. PepsiCo Labs plays a critical role in supporting Pep+, prioritizing innovations that minimize the company’s environmental impact. The climate crisis demands immediate action, and this collaboration is one example of how corporations can make significant change through simple substitutions.”
Following a round of investment led by TPG Climate Rise, UBQ Materials is expanding globally with a large-scale facility and state of the art lab in Bergen Op Zoom, Netherlands, enabling the advanced materials company to further localise waste to production cycles across Europe.
Along with five other solutions innovators, UBQ Materials was recently selected to advance PepsiCo’s sustainability agenda, as the company works to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 75 percent by 2030, a goal which is on track according to PepsiCo’s ESG Summary released earlier this month.