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Plastics compounder Teknor Apex announced today that it will use UBQ, a plastic substitute made from chemically recycled household waste, in its thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) compounds. It’s the first time that the sustainable material developed by Tel Aviv–based UBQ Materials has been added to a TPE compound.

The partnership with UBQ has resulted in the development of a series of TPEs incorporating various levels of UBQ and high-quality post-consumer recycled raw materials, said Teknor Apex. The initiative helps divert plastics from landfills and creates greater circularity within the polymers supply chain.

“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 at Teknor Apex.

UBQ is described as a sustainable plastic substitute converted entirely from unsorted municipal solid waste, including all organics, that has been diverted from landfills. The proprietary process incorporates a form of chemical recycling. The resulting material is compatible with injection and compression molding, extrusion, and 3D printing, according to the company.

UBQ Materials was founded in 2012 and patented the world’s first bio-based thermoplastic made entirely of unsorted household waste converted into a sustainable substitute for oil-based plastics. The material has been adopted by leading industry brands, including Mercedes-Benz, global retail solutions provider Mainetti, PepsiCo, and Arcos Dorados, the world’s largest franchisee of McDonald’s restaurants across Latin America.