For manufacturing companies, when it comes to a choice between silicone and plastic, it is indeed a difficult decision. Plastic is used in almost every industry, but many alternatives seem to be more eco-friendly. Silicon is a non-toxic and hypoallergenic substance compared to plastic, making it safer for everyday use.
In this blog, we’ll see in detail why is silicone better than plastic.
What is silicone?
Silicone is an artificial compound developed from silicon. It is known for its resilience, versatility, and non-toxicity. The common question that many people have in mind is, is silicon a plastic? Well, no, silicone is not plastic since it is made from silicon, water, and methanol. It is a hybrid between synthetic rubber and synthetic plastic polymer.
Silicone vs Plastic? :How does silicone differ from plastic?
There are numerous differences between silicone and plastic. Some of them are:
- Silicone is longer lasting than plastic
- Is silicone safer than plastic for food?
- Silicone is more resistant to oxidative deterioration for decades
- Which one is oven-safe, silicone or plastic?
- Which is more ocean-safe, plastic or silicone?
- Is silicone good for the environment, or plastic?
Silicone can retain its properties in extremely high and low temperatures. On the other hand, plastic tends to melt or crack in extreme temperatures. Plastic products also get foggy and scratchy when hand-washed for quite a long time whereas no such thing happens to silicone-based products.
Yes, silicone is much safer than plastic for food. Plastic is a petroleum-based chemical containing chemicals like BPA, whereas no such chemicals are involved in making silicone products. It is much safer and eco-friendly.
Silicone has been successful in challenges including exposure to harmful chemicals, extreme temperatures, UV radiation, acid rain, and many others. When silicone is set for incineration, it converts back into inorganic substances like silica, carbon dioxide, and water vapor as compared to when plastic is set for incineration.
Silicone-based products are oven-safe as they can withstand extremely high temperatures. Unlike plastic, which can bend, melt, or crack in extremely high temperatures.
Silicone is more ocean-safe than plastic as it resists degradation in the sea, whereas billions of micro-fragments of plastic can litter the oceans.
Plastic is made up of petroleum-based chemical substances, which are very toxic to humans and the oceans. On the other hand, silicone is proven to be non-toxic, and more eco-friendly for the environment.
Prefer silicone cookware over plastic cookware
Those plastic cooking utensils chip and shred with use. They wear out over time, which is not the case with silicone-based cookware. They are long-lasting and easy to use.
A plastic product free of BPA is not equivalent to a silicone product. Whenever you see a sticker saying “BPA free” on cookware, it means that there is some other chemical involved. In most case scenarios, BPA is replaced with BPS which is just as harmful as BPA.
Plastic utensils may contain traces of flame retardants and heavy metals, posing potential hazards to human health and safety for consumption. Also, scrubbing on plastic utensils is very difficult, especially when the plastic has worn down due to heat
Conclusion
In this blog, we explored the differences between silicone and plastic and determined the winner in the comparison of plastic vs. silicone. Both are artificially made compounds, but the production of plastic involves more hazardous chemicals and substances. Silicone and plastic are entirely different from each other, however their applications are somewhat quite similar.
Picture it this way: silicone, with its durability and versatility, is the savvy choice when seeking a material that can withstand extreme temperatures and repeated use without a hitch. On the other hand, plastic, while undoubtedly functional, may need a bit more care in terms of heat management and environmental impact.
We highly prefer and advise our customers to use more silicone-based products due to their ample advantages and unique properties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is silicone safer than plastic?
Yes, silicone is much safer than plastic as it is eco-friendly, contains fewer chemicals, and is non-toxic for the human body.
Is silicone a plastic or rubber?
Silicone is a hybrid between synthetic rubber and synthetic plastic polymer.
Is silicone better than the plastic?
Yes, silicone is better than plastic in every sense. It incorporates very less chemicals in its making and is environmentally friendly.
How can you tell the difference between plastic and silicone?
There is a visible difference between plastic and silicone. Plastic is rigid and cannot be molded into different shapes whereas silicone is the exact opposite. Silicone is flexible and durable and can be molded into different shapes.
What is the difference between soft plastic and silicone?
Unlike silicone, plastic cannot withstand extreme hot and cold temperatures.