What is eco-friendly silicone? An analysis of its 4 key material advantages and applications!

In the global context of responding to environmental sustainability, many businesses are opting to replace plastic materials with eco-friendly silicone. This material is favored for its non-toxic nature, high-temperature resistance, and excellent biocompatibility. It finds extensive applications in fields such as medical equipment, aerospace, military, and daily-use products. Additionally, it is globally recognized as an eco-friendly material. So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of eco-friendly silicone? What ecological benefits does its use bring? This article will introduce you to the characteristics of eco-friendly silicone, provide insights into its strengths, weaknesses, and applications, helping you quickly grasp its potential for sustainable development. Let's go check this out!
 

Understanding eco-friendly silicone

The raw material for environmentally friendly silicone is silicon dioxide, which can be extracted from sources like silica in sand and sulfuric acid. The production process has minimal environmental pollution, making it an ideal alternative to plastic. In contrast, most familiar plastic materials are derived from petroleum, a process that inherently harms the environment during production and lacks biodegradability. Eco-friendly silicone's chemical properties include high safety, non-toxicity, non-corrosiveness, and high-temperature resistance, making it exceptionally durable. Additionally, eco-friendly silicone is approved by the U.S. FDA for use in the food and medical industries, with common products including pacifiers, children's tableware, and heart stents.
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The 4 key material advantages of eco-friendly silicone

After understanding that environmentally friendly silicone is derived from natural sources and boasts advantages such as low environmental pollution, non-toxicity, and durability in the production process, we will now share with you more detailed insights into the benefits of silicone material. The following provides a detailed explanation:
 

Non-toxic and suitable for tableware

Eco-friendly silicone is inherently non-toxic, eliminating concerns about the release of harmful plasticizers affecting human health. Furthermore, eco-friendly silicone can be further categorized into food-grade silicone and regular-grade silicone. To be used in tableware production, food-grade silicone must pass quality inspections. Products such as silicone food bags, silicone food wrap, straws, and baby pacifiers are made using food-grade silicone, providing a safe and reassuring alternative to plastic products for consumers.
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Skin-friendly and less likely to cause allergies

For individuals with sensitive skin, prolonged contact with plastic products can lead to symptoms like skin redness and itching, often indicative of an allergic reaction to plasticizers. Eco-friendly silicone, on the other hand, is free from toxic substances such as plasticizers, bisphenol A (BPA), heavy metals, making it more comfortable and skin-friendly to touch. Moreover, it is suitable for use as a food container and medical material, with a very low probability of causing skin allergies in users.
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Eco-friendly and durable, reducing carbon and plastic for the love of the Earth

The raw materials of eco-friendly silicone are derived from natural minerals, and the resulting material not only possesses safe chemical properties but also offers high durability. Under typical conditions, it can be used for over a decade, and when it comes to disposal, it can naturally decompose through biological processes. Even though it may emit white smoke when burned, it does not produce unpleasant odors or toxic substances. Once burned, it turns into white ash, ensuring that even if environmentally friendly silicone is discarded in regular waste or incinerated, it does not pose harm to the environment.
 

Convenient for disinfection

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many people have developed the habit of frequent disinfection. Eco-friendly silicone not only withstands wiping with disinfectants but can also tolerate high temperatures of up to 250°C, ensuring thorough disinfection without the risk of damage. This material's characteristics align with modern lifestyle habits, allowing for frequent disinfection while maintaining a long product lifespan, contributing to environmental sustainability and green living goals.
 

Disadvantages of eco-friendly silicone

Eco-friendly silicone has a material surface with "capillaries," which may lead to issues such as discoloration and lingering odors after extended use. Additionally, due to the inherent oleophilic nature of eco-friendly silicone, its porous surface can accumulate oil stains, making it sticky and prone to attracting dust. To prevent these issues, regular cleaning is the best preventive measure. It's advisable to clean silicone utensils and food bags promptly after use to avoid discoloration and odors. Furthermore, you can heat the silicone in boiling water with a small amount of baking soda or neutral detergent for about 30 minutes to effectively remove grease and odors.
 

Wide-ranging applications of eco-friendly silicone

Eco-friendly silicone finds applications across a diverse range of fields. Whether it's in eco-friendly tableware, kitchenware, 3C accessories, medical equipment, aerospace and military components, pet products, and more, this material is prevalent. In the following section, we will explain the common applications of eco-friendly silicone in different fields. Are you curious about the products made from eco-friendly silicone? Let's continue and explore further!
 

Dining utensils and culinary tools

Products like silicone foldable tableware, silicone dinnerware, cooking molds, silicone scrapers, silicone food wraps, silicone food bags, and more can all be made using eco-friendly silicone. There is a wide variety of eco-friendly products on the market, so it's advisable to pay attention to whether the materials used are certified, especially when it comes to utensils used for food storage. As more and more plastic products are replaced by environmentally friendly silicone, this shift will have a more positive impact on environmental sustainability.
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3C Accessories

Common consumer 3C (Computers, Communications, Consumer electronics) products that use environmentally friendly silicone include silicone phone cases, silicone protective covers, silicone mouse pads, silicone watch straps, and electronic product components like mouse rollers and keyboard keys. Silicone conductive strips can also be applied to electric dashboards and phone screens. In this highly tech-driven modern age with extensive use of 3C products, the applications for eco-friendly silicone materials are becoming even more widespread.
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Pet Supplies

According to the Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy (TAISE) article, "The Impact of Pets on the Environment: Striving for Sustainable Pet Ownership", it's estimated that over half of the global population owns pets. If pet-related products like toys, bowls, and grooming items were made of plastic, it would result in a significant amount of plastic waste and carbon emissions. Many companies producing pet supplies have started transitioning to more environmentally sustainable materials, and eco-friendly silicone is one of the materials widely used for this purpose.
 

Medical Equipment

Eco-friendly silicone used in the medical field requires endorsements from organizations like the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the German LFGB food certification. Silicone boasts excellent temperature resistance, antibacterial properties, and radiation resistance, making it suitable for various medical applications, including medical components, temporary implants, and permanent implants.
In the realm of medical components, silicone products include respiratory masks, orthodontic braces, and syringe needle plugs. Temporary implants encompass enema tubes, nasal splints, and nasogastric tubes. Permanent implants involve items like heart stents and breast implants. As such, eco-friendly silicone has a wide range of applications in the field of medical equipment.
 

Aerospace and military

The application of environmentally friendly silicone in the aerospace and military industry is mostly for use in mechanical parts or accessories, such as O-ring silicone seals, waterproof face masks, noise-canceling headphones, brake pads, anti-slip footpads, and more. The non-toxic and recyclable properties of environmentally friendly silicone not only contribute to the safety and durability of aerospace and military equipment but also align with environmental sustainability and corporate social responsibility, making it the preferred choice as a plastic substitute material.
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Ecological Impact and Market Benefits

The extensive plastic waste not only pollutes our beautiful land and oceans but also causes harm to numerous wildlife through ingestion and injuries. By reducing plastic usage, we can protect more wildlife and prevent environmental pollution, ultimately slowing down global warming. Environmental pollution is a long-term issue, and with the push for plastic reduction policies by governments worldwide, many people are gradually adopting eco-friendly attitudes and incorporating sustainability into their daily lives. In consumer product choices, the increasing demand for sustainable and long-lasting products, such as those made from eco-friendly silicone, not only helps protect the environment but also creates boundless business opportunities in the industry.
 

ESG Corporate Sustainability: The Key to Sustainable Environmental Protection

ESG corporate sustainability has become a common goal for companies worldwide. In ESG, "E" stands for Environment, which refers to a company's environmental responsibility. It encourages companies to use green materials, reduce environmental pollution, and manage wastewater properly in the manufacturing process. Environmentally friendly silicone rubber is a material that aligns with sustainable values. Revenue performance is no longer the sole indicator of a company's success. In addition to profitability, actively focusing on the well-being of society and taking on social responsibility is what enables companies to achieve long-lasting development and earn consumers' trust.
 

Conclusion

Through this article, we believe that you now have a better understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of environmentally friendly silicone rubber, as well as its wide-ranging applications across various fields. GSUN has over 30 years of experience in the development of eco-friendly silicone rubber products, and our products have received multiple ISO certifications. We specialize in industries such as automotive and medical. In our manufacturing process, we uphold high standards of production management and ensure that every product passes rigorous inspections. If you have any requirements for eco-friendly silicone rubber product development or contract manufacturing, please feel free to contact us.

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