Silicone vs Plastic: The Better Choice for Your Home

As more and more people become aware of the toxic dangers of plastic and its impact on the planet, the demand for silicone kitchen and home products is rapidly increasing. 

But is silicone really better for you than the plastic alternative? The short answer is, YES! That is - the  right silicone. 

Whether you are looking for a sustainable way to save leftovers, line your baking trays, or carry lunches to work and school, you’ll need to know the benefits of silicone vs plastic.  

So what is silicone and how do you know you’ve got the safest version for your home? Read along to discover everything you need to know about this clever material and where to find the best food-grade silicone on the market.

What Is Silicone?

In its simplest form silicone is really just the stuff at the beach we all love and know so well. That’s right. Silicone is derived from sand!

Of course, it takes a little pressure to turn the silica we find in over half of the earth’s core into the flexible material we call silicone. However, if you were wondering if silicone is derived from natural sources, the answer is a resounding yes. 

This toxin-free and safe alternative to plastic is made from the earth’s resources, making it more sustainable and planet-friendly than Tupperware, plastic drink bottles, and cling wrap. 

How Is It Made?

So how does silica from dirt, sand, and clay become flexible and durable products such as easy-to-use covers for food? 

In simple terms, the silica that is naturally found in the earth is collected and heated at extreme temperatures. With the help of carbon and an industrial furnace, the silica then forms a malleable substance that fairs incredibly well in diverse temperatures. 

From here, the heated material is molded into specific shapes and sizes to make usable silicone products. While the process of creating silicone is obviously much more scientific than this simple explanation, the end result is a cost-effective, naturally derived product that is free from BPAs, phthalates, and petroleum.

The Benefits of Silicone vs Plastic

Still wondering if it’s worth making the leap from plastics to silicone? Here are some of the benefits to consider:

1. Temperature Resistant

Remember how we mentioned that silicone can withstand varying temperatures? If you hadn’t put two and two together yet, this means you can take your silicone food pouches out of the freezer and into the oven without fear!

That’s right. Our food-grade & LFGB certified silicone pouches can go in the fridge, freezer, microwave, and oven (up to 200 degrees without the slider) depending on your storage and reheating needs! We’d like to see a plastic container do that! More about that LFGB certification below  🌱

2. Long-Lasting

Cracked lids, brittle corners, and thin plastic no more. Silicone covers, pouches, and baking mats are all incredibly long-lasting. This means you won’t have to replace them nearly as often, saving you money and keeping rubbish out of our landfills. 

3. Flexible and Durable

Because silicone is so flexible and doesn’t rip or tear, you can give it a good stretch to fit it over whatever you need. This is especially handy for our silicone food covers.

With so much durability and stretch, you can find a cover to fit over any bowl, cup, or plate!

4. Lightweight

If you’ve already ditched plastic and have filled your container cupboard with glass, you may be struggling with one subtle downfall. Glass is heavy.

If you love your plastic-free containers but hate lugging around the extra pounds in your lunch box, silicone is a fantastic alternative. 

Tuck your meal into a spill-proof silicone pouch and reheat wherever you are without any stress.

5. Dishwasher Safe

Hate cleaning up? No problem. Pop your silicone directly into the dishwasher without any fear of it melting away or becoming brittle!

6. Non-Toxic

As we mentioned above, silicone is completely BPA, phthalate, and petroleum-free. In addition to this, you’ll never find any lead, odours, or other toxic chemicals that could leach into your foods. 

We definitely can’t say the same about pesky plastics. 

7. Hygienic & Hypoallergenic

Another cool perk of silicone is that there are no open pores for bacterias to grow in. This makes reusing the products over and over again completely safe! 

Not only are they resistant to bacteria growth, but they are also completely hypoallergenic so you never have to worry about you or your kids having a strange reaction to the foods kept inside!

8. Better for the Planet

Last but certainly not least, silicone is substantially better for the environment! 

Not only is this product sourced from the earth, but the longevity of it actually helps cut down on the amount that we consume and inevitably disregard. That means less waste in the ocean and landfills!

What’s the Difference? FDA vs LFGB

Before you go out and fill your cupboards with silicone products, it’s important to recognise that not every silicone is made equally. 

During the manufacturing process, chemicals can be added to modify the silica and produce different products. While food-grade silicone is generally the safest, there are two different systems used to ensure this. 

FDA, standing for Food & Drug Administration, is used in Australia and USA. This system has a specific set of safety standards that products must pass in regards to food contamination and health problems. 

The other system is called LFGB and represents Foods, Consumer Goods and Feedstuffs Code. This code is required for products sold in Germany and France. This testing is the most strict and difficult to pass. As a result, these products are considered the best quality and are often more expensive. 

Here at Go For Zero, we take pride in our silicone products as they are all LFGB certified. We take our health and planet seriously and want to ensure you only have the best of the best for your family. 

Recycling Your Silicones

As you’ve likely already guessed, recycling silicone isn’t quite the same as recycling plastic. 

While your silicone products will last much longer than any plastic alternative, when it comes time to let them go, they don’t belong in your kerbside recycling bin.

Of course, this doesn’t mean your silicones are not recyclable. Instead of regular recycling, you can send your old and retired silicone products back to Go For Zero to be recycled with TerraCycle. 

TerraCycle is a company that collects hard to recycle goods and turns them back into usable products. What’s more, is that every time we recycle, we gain points that translate to donations. 

We can then support sustainability companies in Australia working to make our country a cleaner, more sustainable place to call home! How cool is that!?

The Silicone Solution

If you’ve been on the hunt for a sustainable replacement for plastic, look no further than this. When it comes to the silicone vs plastic debate, there’s simply no competition. 

Want to upgrade your kitchen and home goods and start your sustainable silicone collection? Check out our premium certified silicone products today and ditch wasteful plastics for good.