With items ranging from shipping pallets to displays, PepsiCo is expanding its use of climate tech developer UBQ Material’s renowned thermoplastic across the supply chain.
Certified B Corp UBQ has patented the world’s first bio-based thermoplastic made entirely of unsorted household waste, including all the organics, converting it into a sustainable substitute for oil-based plastics.
Use of UBQ diverts municipal wates 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.
Following PepsiCo’s successful pilot in incorporating UBQ to reduce the carbon footprint of its shipping pallets, the snack giant is now incorporating its use in novel Lay’s potato chip displays, made in part with UBQ – rolling out across Europe.
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 also feature PP resin and recycled BOPP – the plastic film used in the company’s snack packaging – to complete the circular economy.
“Our goal is to transform our entire supply chain to tackle the sustainability challenges the world faces,” said David Schwartz, VP of PepsiCo Labs.
“UBQ Materials’ waste-based thermoplastic reduces landfill wate, prevents emissions, an takes us towards circularity, which I 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.”
PepsiCo’s technology venture arm, Pepsi Labs, identified UBQ Materials as an anchor solution to support PepsiCo Positive (pep+) transformation, which places sustainability and human capital at the centre of how it creates value and growth.
UBQ also lists Mercedes-Benz, and Arcos Dorados, the world’s largest franchisee of McDonald’s restaurants across Latin America, among its clients.
