Sponsored by the Asper Foundation

Israel’s climate-positive waste converter UBQ Materials, announced on Monday that its sustainable, bio-based thermoplastic is being integrated into a product line of planters manufactured by Florida-based company Crescent Gardens.

The new line of planters, referred to as Crescent Too O+, are the first and only planters to contain the UBQ thermoplastic material, and have been made available to consumers and commercial gardeners. 

The aim of the collaboration is to usher in more eco-conscious materials into Crescent Garden’s containers without compromising their self-water functionality and weather resistance. The first styles to launch with UBQ’s signature material are the Emma line and TruDrop container inserts. 

Founded in 2012, UBQ Materials offers a solution that converts unsorted household and landfill-destined waste into UBQ, an eco-friendly, cost competitive replacement for plastic. It works as a drop-in material that can be incorporated into standard manufacturing processes without additional machinery or materials. The production of UBQ decreases the landfilling of waste, preventing methane emissions and curtailing the leakage of toxic substances into the soil. 

UBQ Materials’ customers include global retail solutions provider Mainetti, manufacturer of Mercedes-Benz Daimler, and Arcos Dorados, and the world’s largest franchisee of McDonald’s restaurants across Latin America, among others.

“As a company focused on gardening and cultivating a healthier, sustainable environment, we have a deep understanding of why climate change needs to be addressed, and it starts with us, the producer,” said Harry Tchira, president of Crescent Garden. “Through our partnership with UBQ Materials, Crescent Garden is transforming sustainability in both the home and garden spaces with our plant-positive containers that also offer a positive impact on the world.”