We don’t like plastic. At least when it comes to children’s products (especially food) we believe there is no place for plastic. Plastic is already everywhere. It is used excessively and often senselessly (single-use plastic is the best example). It can only be recycled in insignificant amounts, the rest ending up in seas, oceans, or landfills where it is burned with a lot of toxic fumes.
However, we have to admit, plastic products have completely revolutionized the way we live through comfort and convenience. From the moment they appeared on the market, plastic products had no competitor. As a side note, for those who don’t know, plastic is a material obtained from the processing of petroleum. It is cheap to produce, very light, has a high resistance to shocks, can be colored in thousands of colors and can take seemingly infinite shapes.
All of the above advantages have made plastic a highly used material in any industry, including children’s products. Of course, over time, and especially with excessive use, the disadvantages of plastic also began to appear. The slow decomposition and release of toxic micro-particles by exposure to temperature differences, the pollution resulting from the processing of petroleum to obtain the plastic, and the very limited possibilities of recycling and reuse of most types of plastic.
But with all these serious minuses, an alternative material with the same advantages, but without the same disadvantages, did not make its appearance very easily. That is until the silicone. Of course, completely environmentally friendly substitutes for plastic existed, but we have to be realistic. In order for the planet to be able to give up the plastic that is so ”handy”, an equally practical alternative was needed, at similar costs. This is where silicone comes in. A very big step in the right direction. But what is silicone?
What is silicone?
Silicone is a ”soft glass”. It is produced from quartz (silicon) extracted from sand, just like glass. More precisely, it is a material between glass and rubber. Silicone is not produced from petroleum. Quartz is extracted from sand by heating it to very high temperatures, then it is combined with hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon. But aside from the fact that it is not made from petroleum, perhaps the biggest advantage of silicone is the very low cost of production (just like plastic). Like plastic, silicone is durable and can be colored in many colors. But more important than the advantages shared with plastic, are all the disadvantages that silicone does not share with plastic.
Why should silicone replace plastic?
Here’s why silicone convinced us:
It’s affordable!
As I said, environmentally friendly alternatives to plastic have existed for a long time, but their price made them restrictive for mass use. Now silicone can be produced for about the same price as plastic. So there is no longer a financial argument for choosing plastic products for children.
It doesn’t break… at all!
Okay, some will say plastic doesn’t break either. But it’s not quite like that. Yes, plastic is resistant to physical shocks, but we are not talking about this kind of breaking. Over time, and especially through exposure to temperature variations, the plastic slowly ”breaks” (”peels”) into micro-particles that will be directly swallowed or end up in nature, from where they return to us, in the food we eat. Silicone does not have this problem. Silicone is extremely stable and resistant, even at extreme temperatures (more precisely from -60 to +250 degrees Celsius). This means that there will be no micro silicone particles in the water from your child’s silicone cup or in the hot food from your child’s silicone plate.
Very versatile!
Silicone products for children can be used in the refrigerator, or in the oven, they can be washed in the dishwasher or sterilized in the sterilizer, without altering the structure of the silicone. The same cannot be said about plastic.
Much more hygienic!
Food silicone is resistant to bacteria, fungi, and microbes in general. That’s because silicone is a smooth, very smooth material. It does not have and does not get micro ”bumps” and micro ”deeps” on the surface, places where bacteria normally multiply. So, with each wash, you will completely eliminate all the bacteria that have managed to develop in the container (be it a mug, glass, bowl, or plate). Moreover, the silicone tableware can be sterilized in the sterilizer without any problems. Plastic, on the other hand, due to those particles that detach from the structure, develops cracks and bumps on the surface, where microorganisms multiply. Hence the unpleasant smell that plastic containers acquire over time, no matter how well they have been washed.
It can be recycled and reused much more efficiently!
Plastic recycling is unfortunately a very difficult and inefficient project. The proof is the recycling percentage of only 1% of the total amount of plastic produced in a year. Plastic is produced in many variations and chemical compositions, but only a very small fraction of these variations can be recycled. All the plastic that remains ends up in landfills, where it is often burned with lots of toxic fumes, ends up in the seas and oceans or is buried. Silicone, however, can be fully recycled. True, it is not recycled anywhere and any way, but from silicone, another silicone is obtained. And when silicone is burned (silicone also burns at very high temperatures), it does not eliminate toxic substances but decomposes into the raw material from which it was made.
There are several types of silicone
Due to the many advantages it has, silicone has very quickly gained traction in the market. Many products, including industrial and medical products, are now made of silicone, not plastic. Food silicone is the one dedicated to food products, so for children’s products, all food silicone must be used.
For our silicone products, we have used only premium food-grade silicone, certified and tested in authorized laboratories according to EU regulations. No additives, lead, BPA, formaldehyde, or other toxic substances.
Food grade silicone products for children, which should replace plastic alternatives
The silicone products that we recommend to parents, as alternatives to plastic products, are:
Silicone cup with a spout for babies and children, from which the little ones can drink without spilling. It quickly transforms from a normal glass into a ”mug with a beak” and vice versa. With the spout fitted, the little one will be able to drink water, milk, juice, tea from the glass, without the risk of spilling the contents. The silicone cover is easy to apply and remove. From regular glass to anti-spill mug in 2 moves. It quickly transforms from a regular glass to a spouted mug in seconds. With the spout attached, the cup can be used by the little ones anywhere (in the car, on a walk, in the park, at the beach), without fear of spillage.
Versatile silicone cup with spout, anti-spill lid, and straw for children. The cap seals the mug very well and is very easy to apply/remove. The sides of the cup give the child total control. He will learn to drink alone, without help. Practical and versatile, it transforms from a mug with handles to a spill-proof mug, and vice versa, in 2 quick movements. Depending on the child’s age or preferences, the mug can be used with a lid and straw, with a lid and without a straw, or plain. With the lid attached, the mug can be used by the little ones anywhere: in the car, on a walk, in the park, at the beach. When the cup is turned upside down, only the small amount of liquid that was already in the straw will flow out, but not the liquid in the cup.
– compartmentalized plate with non-slip base and fork
Semi-round silicone plate with a non-slip base and 3 compartments for babies and toddlers. The semi-round shape allows the plate to be placed closer to the child, and the grippy base prevents it from tipping over. Packaged with food-grade silicone and stainless steel spoon of the same color.
– bowl
Food-grade silicone bowl with non-slip base. Comes with a matching food-grade silicone and stainless steel with rounded margins spoon.
– soft bib with pocket for collecting debris
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