With the release of my reusable silicone bag a lot of you may have been wondering; what exactly is silicone and why is Blair so damn excited about it?
The wide range of completely synthetic materials that we would recognise as modern plastics started to be developed around 100 years ago. Single use plastics were made for convenience, but there’s no question that plastic is toxic and it's having a detrimental effect on the environment and our bodies. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has stated that the average person in countries like America and Europe 136kg and 139kg per person per year in the US and Europe respectively. But majority of that plastic ends up in landfill as well as our marine environment. The harsh chemicals and toxins found in plastic can lead to cancer, infertility, immune disorders and more. Fortunately, there is a healthier alternative; Food Grade Silicone! Food Grade Silicone is a more stable, flexible, sustainable, and safe alternative to plastic, safe for people and the planet!
While it's not a “100% natural” material like rubber, food-grade silicone is a non-toxic polymer mostly made from silica, aka sand!
Its oxide form, known as silica or quartz, is dirt-common. In fact, it is dirt: Almost all kinds of sand, clay and rock contain silica in one form or another, and overall more than half the Earth's crust is made of silica. Industrially, silica is converted to pure silicon by heating it with coke (the form of coal, not the chemical ridden drink you find on supermarket shelves) in a furnace.
Due to its high heat resistance, silicone makes up a lot of kitchenware like my reusable silicone bags!
Silicone resists normal aging for decades on end. In fact, studies have shown that silicones thrive on challenges, including exposure to extreme heat and cold, sterilization, rain, snow, salt spray, ultraviolet radiation, ozone, and acid rain, to name a few. If disposed of at a landfill for incineration, the silicone (unlike plastic) is converted back into inorganic, harmless ingredients: amorphous silica, carbon dioxide and water vapor.
Silicone is non-toxic, BPA free and does not leech harmful chemicals into our food and bodies.
It’s been proven to be the safest plastic-alternative and much better for human health and the planet than its plastic counterparts.
It is highly durable and more environmentally friendly than plastic as it is much longer lasting and endures extreme fluctuations in temperatures from very cold to oven hot without melting, cracking or otherwise degrading.
As majority of you would know I am all about kicking those chemicals and toxins out of my life and the life of my family.
Food grade silicone is highly resistant to damage and degradation from extreme temperatures; transferring easily from freezer to microwave.
It doesn’t harden, crack, peel, crumble, dry out, rot or become brittle over time.
It is flexible and durable.
It is lightweight, saves space and is easy to transport.
It's made from an abundant natural resource; silica aka sand!
It's dishwasher, microwave and oven safe.
It's non-toxic and odourless; contains no bpa, latex, lead, phthalates or petroleum.
It can be 100% recycled at select locations; non-hazardous waste
It's hygienic and hypoallergenic with no open pores to harbor bacteria
It can be heated and frozen
I'll meet you there