Innovation

U Plastics innovates by developing, processing, and engineering recycled plastics. They do this by using the residual flow from machining operations. This approach involves transforming residual streams into recycled plastics and later processing them into new products, remaining 100% recyclable. For example, if a school that utilizes benches for its outside furniture wants to upgrade its equipment, U Plastics can use the materials of the old benches to create new ones with zero waste.

The residual streams are processed locally into recycled plastics to keep their carbon footprint as small as possible. This preserves the world's valuable resources, reduces the dependence on fossil fuels, and limits the amount of plastic waste in nature. In this way, they support SGD 12: 'responsible consumption and production.'

They also take into account SDG 9: 'industry, innovation, and infrastructure." by producing recycled plastics and being as non-polluting as possible, U Plastics has extensively invested in its R&D department. As technology evolves, new materials and techniques emerge, and the plastics industry continually evolves to meet changing customer and societal needs. By making this new company, they also provided new positions in the labor market. These positions include jobs for employed and job-seekers distant from the labor market, contributing to SDG 8: 'decent work and economic growth.'

Recently, U Plastics has been collaborating with an investment company to promote the growth of their business and to receive advice on new ideas they have and whether it is right to develop and invest in them. This relates to SDG 17: 'Partnership for the goals'. U Plastics also focuses on SDG 11: 'Sustainable cities and communities SDG' by providing benches and playground equipment at schools and in the cities. By doing this, they help to make society more sustainable. They also contribute to making the components needed to install offshore wind turbines to generate green energy.

Inspiration

After WWII, plastic production increased from 2 million tons in 1950 to 390 million tons in 2021, with researchers estimating that plastic production will quadruple by the end of 2050 compared to 2019. Unfortunately, only 600 million of the 9.2 billion tons produced in the previous 67 years have been recycled, and 40% of plastic products are thrown away, posing a significant problem for our planet.

Wouter Frederix saw this happening with his own eyes since he had worked in a company where he encountered large amounts of waste. This inspired him to start U Plastics; a sustainable company that works towards zero waste. They achieve this by recycling plastics, developing new products, and like Wouter Frederix says: "Keeping the circle small." Their goal is to achieve this sustainably to minimize environmental damage. From this, we understand that quantum leadership is present in the company through connectedness with the environment.

Along with producing a sustainable product, U Plastics is concerned with environmental responsibility in manufacturing, so they have invested in well-insulated premises, solar panels, recycled water, and so on. Wouter Frederix says, "We are into sustainability, we breathe sustainability, we are working on it daily. It is essential to us."

Not only was the sustainable aspect of the environment necessary to him, but he also saw an opportunity to gain a competitive advantage in the market; there was and will be more demand for sustainable products as more companies (for example, publicly traded companies) and individuals demand sustainable products with the smallest possible ecological footprint.

Overall impact

In the long term, the innovation of U Plastics reduces the number of raw materials consumed as these materials can be recycled. For example, in the case of worn-out furniture, its materials can be crushed, so the company can make new products using those without adding any new raw materials. In addition, they can be considered as low polluters due to their significant reliance on solar energy as their primary power source. The business leader thinks it is essential: "You are not that big of an energy guzzler for products to be made."

In the short term, the sustainable company keeps concentrating on growth. That's why an investment company, Initium, picked them up. This provides U Plastics with extra investment opportunities. For example, for fine-tuning their products and processes, which they think is particularly important to stand out even more. But in the end, your business needs to be profitable, and you should not lose yourself in sustainability: "You shouldn't overshoot the mark either."

Overengineering is not the solution if you still need new raw materials to finish your product. U Plastics also concentrates on growth by sharing its story so potential customers are aware of the company's existence, thereby convincing them of the benefits of sustainability. By sharing their story, they were picked up by VOKA (an employers association). Not so long ago, U Plastics started the program, which took three years to obtain a certificate to prove its competitive advantage in sustainability.

As previously stated, they are also involved in the installation of offshore wind turbines, and as a result of significant investments in research and development, they are working on an innovative product that will streamline the installation process and is made entirely of recycled plastic. It's a radical development that can completely transform the turbine installation process. This innovative solution drastically reduces the cost and time required for wind turbine placement, making it more accessible and eco-friendly. It also eliminates the need for heavy equipment and manual labor, reducing the carbon footprint and making it a sustainable solution for renewable energy production. While the development process is still ongoing, and the prototype requires testing and approval, if successful, it would provide U Plastics with a new sustainable product that could help it grow even further.

Business benefit

U Plastics originated as a modest company, starting in a small warehouse in Hasselt, with two dedicated individuals leading the way. Over the years, the company has thrived due to its commitment to producing custom, sustainable products. Today, U Plastics is located in the industrial area of Dilsen-Stokkem, with 17 dedicated employees on their team. These employees receive internal training, which forms the core of their growth strategy.

The company is determined to continue growing in the coming years and aims to expand internationally, which is feasible given the steady increase in its revenue. U Plastics has a competitive advantage because of its focus on zero-waste production, aligning with the growing trend of sustainability in the business world. This attracts new customers, driving their revenue growth and furthering the development of their R&D program. Additionally, they have partnered with the investment firm Initium, which assists them in making strategic choices regarding new products and markets.

Social and environmental benefit

On the one hand, this innovation benefits society because U Plastics' main activity is producing playground equipment and furniture from recycled plastic boards. They develop tailor-made products for schools, the city, and the government. Park benches or playhouses in playgrounds are only some of their products. U Plastics also provides work for people who have difficulties finding employment and those who have remained unemployed for an extended period. They are usually equipped with tasks that are less difficult to execute, giving them the confidence to fulfill that task while providing a direct benefit for the company. It is an excellent opportunity for them to re-enter the labor market. So it's clear the U Plastics is a full-spectrum flourishing company, supporting the well-being and success of customers, employees and the comunity in general.

U Plastics is also participating in VOKA's trajectory, focusing on and attempting to achieve the 17 sustainable development goals. When the course is completed, U Plastics will receive the charter of sustainable entrepreneurship, which shows that your company is consciously engaged in corporate social responsibility.

This means there is no waste before and after the manufacturing process, and recycled plastics are 100% recyclable, so if a product becomes old or worn out, it can easily be crushed again to make something new. Therefore contributing to the concept of net-positive impact.

Finally, U Plastics prioritizes local operations to mitigate CO² to minimize its ecological footprint further.

This innovation has the potential to be highly scalable due to its adaptable nature and ability to be customized to fit the needs of various industries and applications. Its modular design allows for easy replication and implementation in different contexts, and its potential cost savings and efficiency improvements make it an attractive option for organizations looking to streamline their operations. Additionally, as the technology evolves and improves, even more scalable and cost-effective solutions will likely emerge.

Interview

Wouter Frederix, Founder