Reusable Silicone Kitchenware

By Yvonne Pflieger

 

Have you seen our new range of reusable silicone kitchenware and bamboo water bottles yet?  We are always on the lookout for alternatives to single-use and came across these at the Beaches Markets a couple of months ago. After investigating more and chatting to the owner Seonaidh we decided to stock some of Big Bite’s creations:

Is Silicone sustainable?

Food-grade Silicone is not a “100% natural” material like rubber, but it is a non-toxic polymer mostly made from sand (silica). It can be frozen and heated without leaching toxic chemicals unlike some plastics. It is food-safe, non-toxic and does not release odours and as such does not impact food quality.

Silicone can be recycled, and recycled silicone is commonly used as a lubricant for machinery.  At the moment it does not seem as if there is a recycling option for silicone in Australia. It is very, very durable though and should last for years and years. By then we hope that there will be a way of silicone recycling. There are ways to reuse silicone at home and convert it into something new rather easily. Check out this article.

We now also stock biodegradable bamboo drink bottles as an alternative to the rather expensive KleenKanteen stainless steel ones.

These are made from husk fibre, a biodegradable composite made from bamboo husk. The husk is a waste byproduct from the food, fashion and retail industries that is often discarded and incinerated. Combined with a corn starch (or other natural) based polymer it creates a material that is used to create these drink bottles. They don’t contain any plastic or petroleum-based ingredients, allowing them to return back to nature at the end of their lifespan.

Let us know what you think. Are these good alternatives to single-use?

All of these products are manufactured in China in ethical conditions that Seonaidh has investigated and visited herself.

To learn more about Big Bite Eco, check out her website.