Many people don't know the difference between plastic and silicone, and it's easy to understand why. Silicone and plastic may be hard to tell apart at first glance, but the materials are completely different.
Plastic is made from natural gas or crude oil. Microplastics are everywhere today, they are small pieces of plastic that are invisible to the eye. A study suggests that we can ingest as much as five grams of microplastics a week just by eating and breathing. It corresponds to the plastic in an ATM card.
Silicone, on the other hand, is based on silicon (sand). Sixty percent of the earth's crust consists of silicon and it is used in both cement, brick, concrete, glass and ceramics.
Both silicone and plastic can be molded into different shapes to create objects of varying shape, color and size. But especially when it comes to durability, silicone is better than plastic. It can be exposed to water, wind, friction, radiation, heat and cold without breaking in smaller pieces. Therefore, silicone is used to make kitchen utensils, seals, insulators, gaskets and medical equipment.
Besides that, silicone is chemically stable. Thanks to its chemical structure, it can withstand heavy loads without being damaged. Silicone is a non-toxic, safer and more environmentally friendly alternative. That's why CHUMI is made of silicone.
Although silicone and plastic are similar, there are big differences. Silicone is not perfect; the production requires carbon and energy, and it is not biodegradable. On the other hand, it does not break down into invisible microparticles, as plastic does.
