Plastic is a popular choice to use as lids for glass or stainless steel containers due to its ability to create a watertight seal. Plus, tons of ways silicone can be used to help you live more sustainably! Not only does this durability mean that you’ll cut down on replacing (and landfilling) your plastic products by switching to silicone, you can feel confident knowing that silicone won’t break down and leach chemicals into your food like its plastic counterpart. You take a closer look and–yuck!–it’s pieces of your old plastic spatula chipping away into brunch. Firstly, mineral oils are a great choice because they do not attack plastic and offer good operational as well as economical performance with plastics. Thanks! Simply put: this means that while the silicon in silicone comes from a plentiful resource like sand, the hydrocarbons in silicone come from non-renewable resources like oil and natural gas. Plastics are most often made from crude oil that’s extracted from the Earth and transformed into plastic by altering the oil’s carbon compounds. 1. Not so. Suitable for use on glass, metals, timber, plastics, brick, concrete, tiles and most plastics*. In 1979, the US Food and Drug Administration determined that silicon dioxide, the raw material that goes into silicone products, was safe for food-grade applications. Silicone rubber does not react with food or beverages, or produce any hazardous fumes.". I watched a movie (A Plastic Ocean) where a scientist said that even silicone leaches harmful substances. Gorilla Clear … Durability. Silicone is indisputably safer for human health than plastic, which is a petroleum-based material commonly containing estrogen-mimicking chemicals like bisphenol-A (BPA). Note that the ingredient contained within silicone is spelt differently; silicon (no “e”) | The form of silicon we’re talking about today, silicone (with an “e”), is a man-made polymer created from silicon, oxygen, and other elements (usually carbon and hydrogen). Seams or gaps that exist where you have PVC piping for drains or vents must be sealed. Low quality silicone can contain chemical “fillers”, which disrupt silicone’s uniform heat resistance, and can even give usually odorless silicone a synthetic odor. It works especially well on porous items, such as plastic parts, but is a good lubricant on locks, hinges, and guns. Let us know what you think. +1-866-329-1804 Get the facts on silicone below! Yep. So, how do you use silicone? Duh. © document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Life Without Plastic, hybrid between a synthetic rubber and a synthetic plastic polymer, Extractables/leachables from plastic tubing used in product manufacturing, Siloxanes - Consumption, Toxicity and Alternatives, Study on enhancing the Endocrine Disruptor priority list with a focus on low production volume chemicals, Plastic migration from implanted central venous access devices. Plastic and silicone are generally both extremely durable. Is it synthetic? Yes, we do consider silicones a safer alternative to Teflon and similar non-stick cookware that may have perfluorinated chemicals, but we would opt to use it only when there is really no other choice. Its fast-drying formula leaves a clear, odorless, nontoxic film of silicone for long-lasting … Silicone itself is made up of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and silicon. Email Us Call Us (262) 781-7122 Contact. We treat silicone as a plastic like any other, given that it has many plastic-like properties:  flexibility, malleability, clarity, temperature resistance, water resistance. Welcome to the premier industrial source for Silicones in Wisconsin. However, most companies still recommend that you don’t heat silicone beyond 400 degrees F, as it can harden the material. Because of this, many users will simply throw away silicone at the end of its life (where it will sit without breaking down for centuries.) Those are next on my list! Silicones are also used for insulation, sealants, adhesives, lubricants, gaskets, filters, medical applications (e.g., tubing), casing for electrical components. Not only do they work as well as plastic ones, but they’ll last you much longer! The hardness of silicone makes it challenging to shape & modify. Are there benefits that we didn’t mention? If you are going to use silicone, be sure it is high quality, food grade or medical grade silicone and does not contain any fillers. Is silicone a plastic? You know you shouldn’t buy another plastic spatula, just to have to toss it in another 6 months! Many of the problems resulting from plastic pollution are due to the fact that plastic “breaks down”, but only into smaller microplastics. And another long one. Silicone holds up when exposed to water or high humidity and is a good insulator. Canada So, I don’t use many silicone products, I use glass and metal. Health Canada also states: “There are no known health hazards associated with use of silicone cookware. Do you offer silicone sponges for the kitchen? Is it natural? Since our establishment in 2002 in Madison, Wisconsin, we are continuously developing Extraordinary Solutions™ for leading industries worldwide with services ranging from prototyping to full production of high precision Liquid Silicone … When choosing a silicone, one major consideration is the silicone’s resistance to inhibition. There are excellent glass, ceramic and stainless steel options for cooking and baking. Into sous vide cooking? (You'll also get a coupon for 10% off), We'll always respect your information - check out our privacy policy. This makes silicone a hybrid material, meaning that it’s better than plastic in terms of resource extraction, but still not as naturally renewable, and is not biodegradable. Nonetheless, our own research and review of peer-reviewed scientific studies that have been done indicates we should begin to be cautious about silicone. Description: SIMTEC is a research and technology driven company. Silicones are very persistent in the environment. This quick-setting caulk provides a watertight seal and is permanently flexible. Is it durable, heat and cold resistant, and easy to cook with? https://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-2-8-oz-Silicone-Sealant-GE-57/202038072 Silicone can be used to make malleable rubber-like items, hard resins, and spreadable fluids. But, if you define plastics widely, as we do, silicone is something of a hybrid between a synthetic rubber and a synthetic plastic polymer. We get rather queasy about leaving a silicone spoon soaking in a simmering batch of tomato chili, or a spatula flipping burgers on a hot, oily griddle or flaming barbecue. Ogdensburg, NY Some silicone products, like ezpz mats, can even be stacked for an easier set up, clean up, and meal! But most importantly, you will have no idea what the filler is and it may leach unknown chemicals into the food. Well, (you guessed it) silicone can do the same thing! There are different grades of silicone, some of which can be mixed with harmful, petroleum based chemicals. The fact is, there has not been a lot of research done to date on the health effects of silicone. The short answer is Yes, it’s a Plastic Polymer, although it may be referred to as a synthetic rubber. As a result, the product may not be uniformly heat resistant and may impart an odor to food. After you click create, you can head on to that page to update your info and publish your registry! What are Carbon Emissions (and why do they matter? For now, we are comfortable continuing to carry products that have high quality, food grade or medical grade silicone parts. Silicone can be used to make malleable rubber-like items, hard resins, and spreadable fluids. That’s why silicone has caught our eye–flaunting the convenient features of plastic without any of the toxic side effects. Compared to plastic, a silicone product will last a good deal longer before it’s unusable. You know you shouldn’t buy another plastic spatula, just to have to toss it in another 6 months! So what exactly are silicones (or siloxanes, as their backbone chemical structure is called)? Many case makers (SaharaCase included) build in special features into their plastic cases, including tactile edges and ridges, adding extra grip and heft to a case that otherwise may be slippery. It's also easy-to-clean, non-stick, and non-staining, making it popular for cookware and kitchen utensils. Because silicone oil is super slippery and minimally-reactive, it can lubricate most anything. Silicone sealants can be used to bond many common materials, including plastic, metal, glass, and ceramic. Silicone has become a standard high quality seal for products requiring an airtight watertight seal, and a suitable alternative has not yet become available. We recommend glass and stainless steel for food storage when possible, and silicone as an alternative for items that you would otherwise use plastic for. ), EarthHero Methodology(TM): How we Choose our Products, EarthHero December Staff Picks: Last Minute Sustainable Holiday Gift Favorites. From a health perspective, it doesn’t contain the same harmful toxins as plastic, (but there’s still research to be done!). This polymer has been found to have a wide variety of properties. We recommend you always look for silicone thats “medical grade” or at least “food grade”. Silicone rubber does not react with food or beverages, or produce any hazardous fumes.”. For the best in plastic surgery in Milwaukee, contact plastic surgeon Dr. Paul Loewenstein today. Another benefit of silicone: It’s dishwasher-safe! The silicone products that EarthHero carries are all 100% Food-Grade or Medical-Grade and therefore make for an excellent, non-toxic alternative to plastic. It won’t melt under normal cooking scenarios, though once you reach over 400 degrees it may begin to harden over time. But what really is silicone, and how is it different from plastic? Enter silicone, a non-plastic alternative that can take the heat. 2. Share in the comments! Inhibition in silicone rubber is caused by certain contaminants in or on the master to be molded. But silicone is not as inert, stable and chemically unreactive as many claim. But, if you define plastics widely, as we do, silicone is something of a hybrid between a synthetic rubber and a synthetic plastic polymer. Here are some others... Is it a rubber? A review of the literature indicated that the key critical effects of common siloxanes, as shown in animal studies, are impaired fertility and potential carcinogenicity (2005 Report by the Danish Ministry of the Environment: To test a product for fillers you can pinch and twist a flat surface of it to see if any white shows through. Plus, it’s not infinitely recyclable, and will need to be downcycled (used to make a lesser product like playground mulch). Hot glue, super glue, Elmer's glue, Gorilla glue, and liquid steel epoxy all fail. Silicone’s hardiness means that not only can one silicone container displace thousands of single use plastic products, but it also will maintain its shape in the landfill or waterways (if it ends up there, which we hope it doesn’t!). That’s why when it comes to maintenance, putty works way better. We treat silicone as a plastic like any other, given that it has many plastic-like pro… All matters regarding health require medical supervision, and the information presented on this website is not intended as a substitute for consulting with your physician. We’re always on the search for awesome sustainable brands that help us cut down on unnecessary plastic use, so please feel free to share any silicone cleaning-ware brands with us that you’ve found Regarding burning silicone, we were unable to find definitive information on the impacts of incineration, so we chose to focus on the impact of silicone if it ends up in a landfill or waterways. When properly recycled, or sent to a company’s take-back program, silicone can be downcycled into an oil that can be used as industrial lubricant, playground mulch, or another lesser product. Now that we know which lubricant materials are good for plastic and which ones are not, let us look at what lubricants are best to use with plastic. We love silicone for its ability to withstand temperatures, seal up food, and last longer than plastic. Based on our research, we’ve learned that FDA or Platinum Grade silicone products are made without these additives, meaning that the base material of silicone is the same as the base material of glass: silicon, oxygen, carbon and hydrogen. Administrative Office: While this may sound worse, plastic activists say it’s actually better for the environment, as large silicone pieces are less likely to get caught in fish bellies, which can cause a multitude of health problems in marine life as well as in humans that consume them down the line. High strength bond adhesive, sealant and gap filler. Good question (in short, yes, it is). Silicone cartridge features a non-toxic, translucent, 100% silicone formula ideal for use on LEXAN sheet and most plastics. Overall, there’s no “perfect” material or solution, but EarthHero is dedicated to researching and providing our customers with options that are better than the alternative. Is there a lot more info about silicone in the blog below? Things like silicone oven mitts, utensils (spatulas, spoons), splatter guards and pot holders should be fine given the minimal amount of time they are in contact with food. First the silica is heated with carbon in an industrial furnace to extract the silicon, which is then passed through hydrocarbons to create a new polymer with an inorganic silicon-oxygen backbone and carbon-based side groups. While it demands a little more maintenance, it still makes it possible. Which is a good reason why we should reduce our use of plastic and replace it with silicone where we can. 113 Boulevard Saint-Joseph IMPORTANT NOTE: While we strive to provide as accurate and balanced information as possible on our website, Life Without Plastic cannot guarantee its accuracy or completness because there is always more research to do, and more up-to-date research studies emerging -- and this is especially the case regarding research on the health and environmental effects of plastics. What is food grade silicone? Cooking for a whole family? Unlike plastics, silicone has a high resistance to temperature, low reactivity with chemicals, doesn’t support microbiological growth, repels water, and is resistant to ultraviolet (UV light). bui-chevron-up. With studies around BPA, BPS, phthalates, and microplastics (just to name a few), plastic is showing its true colors as both bad for the planet, and bad for our health. Application These companies offer a comprehensive range of Silicones, as well as a variety of related products and services. Click on company profile for additional company and contact information. While silicone is durable and has a high temperature resistance, it makes us queasy to be heating food to very high temperatures in a material like silicone which has been shown to leach chemicals and is not completely inert and stable. I would like to see some Silicone 3.4 oz containers for airline travel to carry shampoo, etc. Bring your ideas to life with RSP. 13669 USA, Merchant theme by Pixel Union, Powered by Bigcommerce It may be in good shape for a few years, but eventually that plastic will look scratched, the edge might be slightly melted, and it can break under too much pressure. Although we welcome additional research into potentially overlooked chemicals in silicone, what we do know is that hormone disrupting chemicals found in plastics, like BPA and BPS, aren’t found in silicone, and we’ll take that as a win. J-B Weld 50139 Plastic Bonder Body Panel Adhesive and Gap Filler Syringe - Black - 25 ml ), great for hospitals, and a strong overall alternative to plastics. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Crude oil, like coal, is a non-renewable resource, meaning that when it’s gone, there will be no oil left to create new raw plastics. Silicone, like plastic, can be recycled multiple times. Stasher bags are a healthier alternative to plastic. Shop the Stasher Bag official site. After opening our doors we quickly realized that we can be the small business manufacturer we desire. Product Overview This 10 oz. It’s flexible, durable, washable, and can be shaped into just about anything! However, it’s slightly more complicated than that. Free Shipping orders $50+ | Free Returns | Best Price GuaranteedCarbon neutral shipping, always! It offers a water-tight seal and is excellent for marine applications above the water line. Plastic is easy, lots of stuff sticks to plastic, but the only thing that seems to stick to silicone is more silicone. Silicone is arguably more environmentally friendly than plastic in kitchen applications, as plastic is not as hardy or long lasting as silicone is — and silicone is more inert that plastic, which means it has a lower chance of leaching chemicals into food when used for food storage. 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