Plus, tons of ways silicone can be used to help you live more sustainably! They’re freezer-safe, and can be placed in the microwave without contaminating your food with BPA or BPS. However, plastic is no slouch in this category either. Silicone isn’t plastic, and silicone isn’t biodegradable, but when we look at silicone vs plastic it seems to come out on top. Check out Stasher Bags or Food Huggers to seal up your leftovers. Well, (you guessed it) silicone can do the same thing! Sale. We balance the toxicity information stated above with the knowledge that silicone is a high quality, relatively stable material, and leaching of chemicals from other plastics is of much greater concern. You likely would have to take them to a specialized private recycling facility. Silicone is also one of the more expensive caulk options. Many experts and authorities consider silicone completely safe for food use. Duh. But again, we prefer to avoid them for direct food use where possible. Toggle navigation. 835 Commerce Park Not only do they work as well as plastic ones, but they’ll last you much longer! It won’t melt under normal cooking scenarios, though once you reach over 400 degrees it may begin to harden over time. Click on company profile for additional company and contact information. Gatineau, Quebec J8Y 3W7 ), great for hospitals, and a strong overall alternative to plastics. CAPABILITIES. Such specialized recycling companies will typically down-cycle it into oil used as lubricant for industrial machines. You know you shouldn’t buy another plastic spatula, just to have to toss it in another 6 months! These microplastics are ingested by marine life, and can also make their way into our bodies through the food chain, water supply, and other food sources. Natural rubber can be a good alternative for things like soothers and bottle nipples, as long as there is no risk of rubber allergy. Silicone does not biodegrade or decompose (certainly not in our lifetimes). The key difference from the common carbon-based plastics we describe here is that silicones have a backbone made of silicon. There are excellent glass, ceramic and stainless steel options for cooking and baking. Do you offer silicone sponges for the kitchen? One study tested the release of siloxanes from silicone nipples and bakeware into milk, baby formula and a simulant solution of alcohol and water. MRPC is a provider of medical device components and assemblies, specializing in liquid silicone rubber molding, silicone molding, thermoplastic molding and two material molding. Shop the Stasher Bag official site. However, silicone is rarely recycled properly and can end up in landfills, where it’s less harmful than plastic yet still won’t biodegrade. 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. Enter silicone, a non-plastic alternative that can take the heat. Your new registry's not searchable yet. The short answer is Yes, it’s a Plastic Polymer, although it may be referred to as a synthetic rubber. Name That is really long. Gorilla All-Purpose 100% Silicone Sealant – Editor’s Choice Clear Silicone Sealant. This polymer has been found to have a wide variety of properties. The plastics industry considers silicone a plastic, and so do we, regardless of much of the green marketing claiming it is not a plastic. It can be a liquid, gel, hard, soft, or even rubber-like. 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. Of course there is. To seal a PVC pipe with silicon you must first obtain one or more tubes of silicone, then prepare the PVC pipe. For the best in plastic surgery in Milwaukee, contact plastic surgeon Dr. Paul Loewenstein today. bui-chevron-up. Form flexible water-resistant seals on metal, plastic, and rubber joints in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration applications. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. However, to turn this silica into silicone, the silicon must be extracted and processed. Application Silicone rubber does not react with food or beverages, or produce any hazardous fumes.”. Yep. Other companies, like ezpz are using the powers of silicone to make an all-in-one placement/plate combo that suctions to the dinner table so tiny hands can’t tip anything over. Product Overview This 10 oz. We believe the silicone holds an important place in our switch away from single use plastics, specifically in scenarios where glass or steel are not practical. UV, mould and weather resistant. It's also easy-to-clean, non-stick, and non-staining, making it popular for cookware and kitchen utensils. Silicones are also used for insulation, sealants, adhesives, lubricants, gaskets, filters, medical applications (e.g., tubing), casing for electrical components. 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. Silicone sealants can be used to bond many common materials, including plastic, metal, glass, and ceramic. Stasher bags are a healthier alternative to plastic. 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. Another benefit of silicone: It’s dishwasher-safe! The winner: Silicone. Companies like ECOlunchbox are turning to silicone for the lids to their stainless steel containers. This item has been added to your waitlist. Inhibition in silicone rubber is caused by certain contaminants in or on the master to be molded. A silicone spatula, however, can withstand large amounts of pressure, heat (and cold), and will resist cracking. All of this makes silicone easy to clean, perfect for cooking (microwaves too! Is it a better alternative to plastic? Are there benefits that we didn’t mention? Nevertheless, glass and metal are wins, too! Silicone, like plastic, can be recycled multiple times. As indicated in our Terms & Conditions, none of the information presented on this website is intended to be professional advice or to constitute a professional service to the individual reader. That’s why when it comes to maintenance, putty works way better. | And another long one. I was under the impression that silicone could be burned at the end of its life. Share in the comments! It’s great when used as lids and food storage bags and even children’s mealtime mats! 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 identified small scale companies as an important market focus, because we believe success is not defined by size but by knowledge and expertise. After opening our doors we quickly realized that we can be the small business manufacturer we desire. That’s why silicone has caught our eye–flaunting the convenient features of plastic without any of the toxic side effects. As you can see from our product line, we carry a number of items that contain silicone, usually in the form of seals or gaskets. Sue and Tonia began SMT- Silicone Molding Technologies in April 2012. We treat silicone as a plastic like any other, given that it has many plastic-like pro… Imagine this: you’re making breakfast on Sunday morning, flipping pancakes and scrambling eggs, when you notice tiny pieces of something swirling with the chocolate chips. Thanks for switching to sustainable alternatives! Silicone can endure extreme fluctuations in temperature. It’s always important to do as much research as possible on any material, silicone included! Get the facts on silicone below! An earth element called silica that is found in sand. 13669 USA, Merchant theme by Pixel Union, Powered by Bigcommerce Like plastic, it can be shaped or formed and softened or hardened into practically anything. 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. Seams or gaps that exist where you have PVC piping for drains or vents must be sealed. Furthermore, when it comes to the environment, silicone is highly durable and more environmentally friendly than plastic. So what exactly are silicones (or siloxanes, as their backbone chemical structure is called)? Here are some others... Is it a rubber? From a health perspective, it doesn’t contain the same harmful toxins as plastic, (but there’s still research to be done!). Berryman Professional Silicone Spray is an excellent lubrication, waterproofing, and corrosion protection product for most surfaces including metal, wood, rubber, and plastic. Let us know what you think. © 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. Selleys 480g White 3-in-1 Silicone Sealant. Low quality silicone can contain chemical “fillers”, which disrupt silicone’s uniform heat resistance, and can even give usually odorless silicone a synthetic odor. Firstly, mineral oils are a great choice because they do not attack plastic and offer good operational as well as economical performance with plastics. Many people seem to think they are a natural material derived directly from sand. The hardness of silicone makes it challenging to shape & modify. 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). Silicone can also be used for freezer storage, and will resist cracking or other deterioration that can result from using plastic containers. Plastic is a popular choice to use as lids for glass or stainless steel containers due to its ability to create a watertight seal. Probably the most common household use for silicone caulk adhesives is caulking cracks. Like any item, there are low-quality and high-quality versions of silicone products out there. Thanks! While normal plastics break down into dangerous microplastic pieces that can ingested by wildlife and ocean life, silicone doesn’t break down much at all (it’s that good!). The fact is, there has not been a lot of research done to date on the health effects of silicone. Good question (in short, yes, it is). Silicone has a lot of properties that make it a good plastic alternative. Is there a lot more info about silicone in the blog below? It’s important to get the terminology right here, and there are three distinct related substances to understand: Thus, while most plastics have a polymer backbone of hydrogen and carbon, silicones have a backbone made of silicon and oxygen, and hydrocarbon side groups - all of which gives them plastic-like characteristics. When choosing a silicone, one major consideration is the silicone’s resistance to inhibition. Amazon's Choice for silicone nose pads for plastic frames GMS Optical® 1.3mm Ultra-Thin Anti-Slip Adhesive Contoured Silicone Eyeglass Nose Pads with Super Sticky Backing for Glasses, Sunglasses, and Eye Wear - 5 Pair (Clear) 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. 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. Unique by design, Stasher is engineered to get people to rethink the plastic in their lives. With top of the line injection molding and extrusion molding machines, Silicone Plastics is the leading custom plastic manufacturer in the region. We love silicone for its ability to withstand temperatures, seal up food, and last longer than plastic. Nonetheless, our own research and review of peer-reviewed scientific studies that have been done indicates we should begin to be cautious about silicone. 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. Silicone cartridge features a non-toxic, translucent, 100% silicone formula ideal for use on LEXAN sheet and most plastics. Perhaps he was talking about the additives from petrochemicals. There are different grades of silicone, some of which can be mixed with harmful, petroleum based chemicals. You take a closer look and–yuck!–it’s pieces of your old plastic spatula chipping away into brunch. 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!). Silicone can be used to make malleable rubber-like items, hard resins, and spreadable fluids. J-B Weld 50139 Plastic Bonder Body Panel Adhesive and Gap Filler Syringe - Black - 25 ml 2. Not all silicone products are created equal and some do contain petrochemicals or other plastic fillers. Because silicone is more resistant to heat, and doesn’t contain the harmful toxins that plastic is known to have, it’s considered safe to microwave! Bottle nipples and pacifiers should be safe, but best not to put them in the dishwasher, and if they get cloudy or worn out, replace them (ideally, they should be replaced every six to eight weeks). Stasher Bags, for example, are very popular for freezing, cooking, and microwaving food. 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.) 2. 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. These sealants are non- sagging, so they won't drip from vertical and overhead surfaces. ), EarthHero Methodology(TM): How we Choose our Products, EarthHero December Staff Picks: Last Minute Sustainable Holiday Gift Favorites. It’s flexible, durable, washable, and can be shaped into just about anything! 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. Silicone itself is made up of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and silicon. Regardless, I prefer silicone for most things because of its resistance to microbes, especially for cleaning. 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. While it demands a little more maintenance, it still makes it possible. Use with caution, and if you can find an alternative, use it. Recommended lubricants for plastic. Important Qualities in Caulk for Showers and Bathtubs Material Options. Silicone holds up when exposed to water or high humidity and is a good insulator. Is it synthetic? Its fast-drying formula leaves a clear, odorless, nontoxic film of silicone for long-lasting … Overall, silicone seals in moisture to keep food fresher for longer! Description: SIMTEC is a research and technology driven company. 1. The higher the quality of silicone, the less likely it is to contain chemicals or toxins that could leach out of the silicone. Hi TJ! 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. Because silicone oil is super slippery and minimally-reactive, it can lubricate most anything. It offers a water-tight seal and is excellent for marine applications above the water line. You take a closer look and–. And another long Health Canada also states: “There are no known health hazards associated with use of silicone cookware. Consider a plastic spatula. 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. Add some sustainability to your inbox! We will send you an email when it comes back into stock. Those are next on my list! Free Shipping orders $50+ | Free Returns | Best Price Guaranteed, Imagine this: you’re making breakfast on Sunday morning, flipping pancakes and scrambling eggs, when you notice tiny pieces of, swirling with the chocolate chips. Silicone can be used to make malleable rubber-like items, hard resins, and spreadable fluids. Think about sand. 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. Warehouse: it’s pieces of your old plastic spatula chipping away into brunch. However, most companies still recommend that you don’t heat silicone beyond 400 degrees F, as it can harden the material. Many of the problems resulting from plastic pollution are due to the fact that plastic “breaks down”, but only into smaller microplastics. With silicone, you don’t have that chance – if it breaks or cracks, you’ll need to replace it altogether. Bring your ideas to life with RSP. Is it natural? Suitable for use on glass, metals, timber, plastics, brick, concrete, tiles and most plastics*. Would you be able to look into that? Made from silicone, sealants are RTV (room -temperature vulcanizing). Provides waterproof seal. Cooking for a whole family? Note that the ingredient contained within silicone is spelt differently; silicon (no “e”) Administrative Office: Name That is really long. Reusable & made with food-grade silicone, every Stasher prevents plastic bags from entering oceans. But most importantly, you will have no idea what the filler is and it may leach unknown chemicals into the food. (You'll also get a coupon for 10% off), We'll always respect your information - check out our privacy policy. As with all things, silicone has its dark side. All you have to do is put the food in the portion controlled areas, toss it in the microwave and then serve warm, toasty food–without any plastic chemicals. A quick and easy way to seal PVC is with silicone. We don’t offer any silicone kitchen sponges, yet! After you click create, you can head on to that page to update your info and publish your registry! Technically, silicone could be considered part of the rubber family. In recent years, however, consumers opened their eyes to the harmful effects of plastics. Because these sealants are so simple to use and their consistency is easy to handle, applying silicone sealants to all your gaps, cracks, or breaks is a snap. Since the invention of plastic in 1907, it’s no surprise that the versatile material has become so widely used. This quick-setting caulk provides a watertight seal and is permanently flexible. Like any plastic polymer, silicones are synthetic and include a mix of chemical additives derived from fossil fuels. Plastic is easy, lots of stuff sticks to plastic, but the only thing that seems to stick to silicone is more silicone. However, silicone caulk cannot be painted, and silicone can attract dirt if used on an exposed surface. Read on... Because silicone spray is water resistant, it also can protect items from moisture. For all you know, the filler may be a silicone of low quality or not silicone at all. Silicone caulk dries quickly and is a top choice for creating a seal between plastic surfaces. What the heck is it? So what do you do? Silicone, they explain, is "something of a hybrid between a synthetic rubber and a synthetic plastic polymer," which means it's still a plastic, no matter how it's spun. Silicone, a synthetic non-resorbable polymer, used in Plastic surgery as an implant is biocompatible, resistant to resorption, easy to sterilize and safe. Description. 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). The general rule is that pure silicone does not change color at all, so if any white shows through, there may be fillers in your product. 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. Relatively safe. What are Carbon Emissions (and why do they matter? Also, to me, the fact that it does not decompose, makes it a rather selfish than sustainable material to obtain. The pipe must be dry before you apply the silicone; this allows the silicone to set up properly. It is designed to be used indoors and outdoors to repair everything from electrical connections to seams on boots to stop leaks in wet weather. 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. You know you shouldn’t buy another plastic spatula, just to have to toss it in another 6 months! 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. Is silicone a plastic? The plastics industry considers silicone a plastic, and so do we, regardless of much of the green marketing claiming it is not a plastic. 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. Silicones are very persistent in the environment. And while water resistant, it is also highly gas permeable, making it useful for medical or industrial applications where air flow is required. Try ezpz’s unique silicone placemat+ plates! It works especially well on porous items, such as plastic parts, but is a good lubricant on locks, hinges, and guns. Plus, it’s not infinitely recyclable, and will need to be downcycled (used to make a lesser product like playground mulch). Gorilla Clear … Not so. High strength bond adhesive, sealant and gap filler. I used a one-litre silicone bag for my gels on my last airline flight and it was perfect. What is food grade silicone? Free Shipping orders $50+ | Free Returns | Best Price GuaranteedCarbon neutral shipping, always! What is silicone made out of? No. 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. We treat silicone as a plastic like any other, given that it has many plastic-like properties:  flexibility, malleability, clarity, temperature resistance, water resistance. Regarding the fact that silicone does not decompose–we view this as a benefit, rather than a negative. For example Health Canada states:  "There are no known health hazards associated with use of silicone cookware. ThomasNet.com provides numerous search tools, including location, certification and keyword filters, to help you refine your results. You can test your silicone products for chemical fillers by pinching and/or twisting a part of the silicone. Silicone is not the same as plastic, even though there are some similarities. 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. 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. I too thought silicone the way to go until I asked a PhD chemist, who just shook his head and said no. 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. 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. These companies offer a comprehensive range of Silicones, as well as a variety of related products and services. Durability. Because silicone is so durable, it doesn’t easily biodegrade or decompose. 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. Nothing was released into the milk or formula after six hours, but after 72 hours in the alcohol solution several siloxanes were detected. Loctite Clear Silicone is a multipurpose adhesive and sealant which creates a waterproof, protective seal that is ideal for metal, glass, rubber, tile and porcelain. As a result, the product may not be uniformly heat resistant and may impart an odor to food. 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