A Brabant factory turning waste into value

Surviving in the waste‑recycling industry takes perseverance. Collection is complex and costly, many materials are difficult to recycle, and you’re competing with cheap primary raw materials. Despite these challenges, UBQ Materials has something truly groundbreaking in its hands, says CEO Albert Douer: “I consider myself fortunate to be able to make a real contribution to solving climate challenges.”

When Albert began working in recycling some twenty years ago, he quickly discovered just how difficult it is. “Logistics are expensive, and the technical know-how required is significant,” he explains. “Take plastic waste, for instance: separating it properly and getting it clean enough for recycling is no small task. Another issue is that only a small portion of waste can actually be recycled—everything else ends up in polluting incinerators. At UBQ Materials, we’ve developed a solution to both problems.”

Banana peels and pizza boxes

UBQ Materials found its solution through a revolutionary technology. “With this method, we can recycle up to 95 percent of all household waste,” Albert says. “And that doesn’t just mean plastics—it includes organic waste like pizza boxes, banana peels, and coffee grounds. We convert all of this into a composite material that serves as a sustainable alternative to plastic.”

This composite can be used to create all kinds of products, from automotive parts and office chairs to construction materials and planters. The production process is also highly sustainable: it requires no chemicals, no water, and no high processing temperatures.

In 2024, UBQ Materials received support from the Just Transition Fund (JTF). Albert explains how essential this funding was. “After covid and the war in Ukraine, we had faced some tough financial years. The funding allowed us to build an advanced energy‑monitoring system, which has significantly reduced our energy consumption. It also helped us improve the versatility of our composite, making it easier for customers to integrate into their existing production processes. That’s incredibly important, because I’ve learned that companies want to make sustainable choices, but they sometimes need a little help to get there.”

Rooted in Brabant

The chemical industry in North Brabant, home to UBQ Materials’ factory, is undergoing a major transition. More and more companies are shifting from fossil-based to renewable energy sources. Grants such as those from the JTF help accelerate this shift. “We’re proud to contribute to the region’s renewal,” Albert says. “We feel at home here in Bergen op Zoom. We see this factory as a model for the rest of the world, a demonstration that a large‑scale circular economy is not just possible, but viable. What we learn here can be applied anywhere.”

Albert has spent his life working in industry, but being able to directly contribute to solving climate issues through UBQ gives him deep satisfaction. “I truly feel lucky to have this opportunity. I’m originally from Colombia, and there’s a very poor region there called Chocó, where waste problems are overwhelming. If we could open a UBQ facility there, we wouldn’t just help tackle the waste issue, we’d also create jobs. Their homes could even be built with UBQ‑based construction materials. That’s a dream I would love to bring to life.”