You’ve probably heard of silicone before: It’s in houseware, sealants, and medical devices. Think silicone baking molds, silicone utensil sets, etc. But what exactly is it? And is silicone plastic? Not exactly.
Silicone is not the same as plastic, but it is similar. Silicone is more temperature resistant and durable. It has a low reactivity with chemicals. It is highly gas permeable, making it useful for medical or industrial applications. Silicone is easy-to-clean, non-stick, and non-staining.
Silicone shares another trait with plastic: It’s hard to recycle. Silicone has a low recycling rate. While silicone is technically recyclable, you would likely have to take it to a specialized private recycling facility.
Silicone is technically a plastic polymer, its durable molecular structure keeps it from shedding microplastics in the way that common plastics do. Silicone can still break apart into small pieces and enter our waterways.
Silicone isn’t the most environmentally friendly material to choose from, but it’s better than plastic. And silicone items don’t tend to be made into single-use items.
It is a safer alternative to house food than plastic, as long as it’s food-grade silicone. However, it’s important to note silicone is not completely chemically unreactive and can potentially release toxic chemicals over time.
— BEESWAX WRAPS — UNBLEACHED PARCHMENT PAPER — JARS — WOODEN UTENSILS — GLASS STORAGE CONTAINERS — KITCHEN TOWELS — BOWLS COVERED WITH PLATES