If you are looking for containers that should be reliable, durable, and last for a long time, there is nothing better than silicone. As we all are aware of the side effects of plastic on our environment, it’s about time to eliminate plastic waste from our planet and use something recyclable. The best thing about silicone is it can be changed into different shapes, unlike plastic, and last for a long time as a plastic container.
People often get confused when adopting silicone containers or other stuff in their routine as they want to use sustainable products. If you are in the same confusing state as others, you have landed at the right place. We have formulated this valuable guide to help you get answers to a few questions regarding silicone. At the end of this blog it will help you decide whether you should adopt this product in your daily routine or not.
Is Silicone Eco Friendly?
Silicone is often thought of as an Eco-friendly material. And while it does have some benefits, it’s not always the best option.
If you’re like me, when you think of Eco-friendly materials, silicone doesn’t necessarily come to mind. However, a new study has shown that silicone may actually be more environmentally friendly than we thought. in this post, we’ll take a closer look at silicone and its impact on the environment.
Advantages of Silicone
Before buying anything controversial, we need to back our decision by reading out some benefits. If you are confused and want a clear picture of whether you should choose silicone or not, then you are here for a reason. We have compiled some of the proven benefits of silicone to fade your skepticism.
Heat-Resistant
If you compare silicone with plastic, this material is highly resistant to heat, unlike the latter. If you keep the material at a high temperature, it resists and shows flexibility even at the temperature of -100C. The best thing about silicone is that it is compatible with a wide temperature range and retains structure during these circumstances. Also, if we are talking about food-grade silicone, it is safe to keep it in the microwave and never dilute in your food, even at a high temperature. Some silicones can also resist direct heat flames due to their solid and complex manufacturing.
Ocean-Friendly
We have always heard that plastic is responsible for killing sea creatures because it’s not ocean-friendly. The material silica used in silicone manufacturing derives from sand which makes it less harmful, unlike conventional plastic material. Even if you dump silicone into the sea, which is not advisable, it will still be managed to stay there without hurting any of the sea creatures. It doesn’t melt, and none of the creatures can eat it. Saving sea creatures is our priority, and replacing plastic with silicone can significantly help.
Non-Toxic Material
Silicone is not entirely sustainable, or it doesn’t decompose rapidly, but still, it’s far safer than plastic. When we are talking about food containers, the silicone used to prepare such stuff is non-toxic and contains no harmful chemicals. This material is known to be chemically stable and safe to use for keeping food in it. It doesn’t leave any fumes or chemical that pollutes your surroundings. Also, it doesn’t leave any odor behind. Silicone is a versatile material that is only not suitable for home purposes such as storing food but also for commercial purposes.
Highly-Durable
Plastic is polluting the environment faster because plastic starts losing its pieces when lost in the environment, whereas silicone stays stable when dumped somewhere for years. Silicone doesn’t lose its particles or break because it’s heat-resistant, durable, and flexible to last for a long time. The decomposing time of silicone material is similar, but it leaves a less harmful impact on the environment than plastic.
Disadvantages of Silicone
Everything has its own set of pros and cons. Let’s look at some of the disadvantages of silicone.
High-Cost
Regarding affordability, silicone is not cheap because of the manufacturing process. Due to durability, reliability, and less-polluted environmental impact, silicone containers and other stuff are considered premium products. Another reason silicone is not cheap is its high manufacturing cost. The components that are needed for the manufacturing of silicone are expensive. While preparing silicone, the energy costs double, and it’s hard to sell them at affordable prices. People prefer plastic over silicone because of its high cost, and everyone can’t afford it.
Slow Rate of Decomposing
If we compare plastic and silicone with each other, the only thing that makes them similar is the slow decomposing rate. When plastic gets dumped somewhere, it takes 50-500 years to decompose fully, and sometimes more. Also, plastic loses some of its particles every day, polluting the planet and harming other living beings such as insects, fishes, and plants.
On the other hand, silicone also takes around 50-500 years to decompose completely, but it doesn’t lose its particles to harm the environment. Instead of recycling, if people will dump silicone everywhere, it will surely start polluting the environment.
Is Silicone Better than Plastic for the Environment?
Saving this planet from harmful impacts and reducing the deadly trash has always been a controversial topic. There is a constant war between plastic and silicone as people try switching their preferences to environmentally friendly products. Plastic has polluted the environment badly, and we can see the impact every day. It has killed several sea creatures, and plastic manufacturing waste is killing plants and making our soil deadly.
Several brands came out with awareness campaigns where they told people what the negative impacts of plastic on our environment are and how to deal with it. We saw different alternatives to plastic coming out, but they didn’t last. Until now silicone is one of the best plastic alternatives and has fewer harmful effects than plastic. Also, till a specific point, silicone can reduce people’s dependence on plastic utensils. Silicone is also a safe alternative because it’s environmental-friendly, recyclable, and resistant to intense temperatures.
Also, silicone remains intact in the ocean, unlike plastic, which loses its particles and harms other sea creatures. People are switching to silicone material because of its longevity and recyclable material. Many users are shifting from plastic to silicone as this material is ideal for keeping food without leaving odor behind. You can keep this product in the oven, freezer, or anywhere without worrying about the effects it will have on your food. Another benefit that people prefer silicone over anything else is that they have to invest once, but it will last for a long time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is silicone actually sustainable?
When it comes to sustainability, silicon is not environmental-friendly material as it is driven by petroleum. It’s not safe to consume for other living beings but not hard to recycle for subsequent use. Silicone can be recycled many times after use, and it’s better than throwing it away, where it stays for centuries without decomposing. But if we compare this material to plastic, it is a perfect alternative. It’s more eco-friendly than plastic and doesn’t add piles of trash to the planet. It might be disappointing for some to learn how it takes years to decompose, but still, plastic is 5x more dangerous than silicone.
Does silicone biodegrade?
No, silicone is not biodegradable like plastic and can’t break down on its own. There are several ways to use silicone than plastic. You can use silicone more than plastic without breaking or discoloring the material. Also, the degrading of silicone depends on the specific conditions you are using it in. Also, this material doesn’t create hazardous waste, so you can use it by replacing plastic from the homes.
Can we recycle silicone?
Yes, we can recycle silicone several times, unlike plastic, but it’s impossible to do this at home. A proper process is required to recycle silicone, and it has to be sent to a facility where the material gets recycled. Instead of throwing silicone on the streets, where it starts piling up like plastic and harming other living beings, it’s better to send them to the facility where it comes out as another product. Dumping it anywhere is not an option, but it makes the environment more polluted. The only property plastic and silicone share are they don’t decompose for centuries which is harmful to the planet.
Is silicone safe for food storage?
Silicone is safe to keep in a microwave and doesn’t leave its particles in food like plastic. Most silicone containers are safe to keep in the microwave, oven, and freezer as they don’t contain petroleum-driven elements such as BPA, fillers, or other stuff. There are no health hazards associated with silicone food containers as they produce no fumes, unlike plastic. Also, the container won’t break or leave the color regardless of the time you want to keep it in a storage place.
Final Thoughts
If you have been reading us till now, you must have enough information about silicone products. After knowing about the dangers of using plastic and how it is responsible for killing sea creatures and other humans, people avoid plastic at all costs.
Silicone can be used more often than the typical plastic container and is an environment-friendly choice for storing food. It would be great to send silicone to recycling facilities rather than throw them out, which only adds to the trash. Different organizations accept silicone as a safe material to use, making it a perfect alternative to plastic.