What is Food Grade Silicone and Why is it Better Than Single-Use Plastic?

Did you know 95% of plastic is never recycled in the US?

Single-use plastics were made for convenience, but there’s no question plastic is one of the world’s biggest environmental hazards. At Stasher, it’s our goal to keep every Stasher bag out of landfill. While silicone is an ideal material for reusable products with its incredibly durable qualities, it unfortunately doesn't biodegrade since it’s a polymer material—meaning throwing it away is one of the worst things one could do. So, to help us achieve our goal we’ve partnered with TerraCycle®. Through this partnership your bag can be responsibly recycled and avoid ending up in a landfill.

The good news? Our quest to stop single-use plastic from polluting our waterways has exploded into a global movement that’s replacing billions of plastic bags and containers. Our radically functional, durable products are designed to inspire everyone to live life with less plastic. 

Why choose platinum, food-grade silicone for the ultimate reusable? Because it’s better for you and the environment. Silicone is highly durable yet lightweight, and holds up from freezer to microwave, oven, and dishwasher without leaching chemicals. Let’s break it all down . . .

Benefits of food-grade silicone:

• Highly resistant to damage and degradation from extreme temperatures.
• If cared for properly, it won’t harden, crack, peel, crumble, dry out, rot or become brittle over time.
• Lightweight, saves space, easy to transport.
• Food safe and odorless — contains no BPA, latex, lead, or phthalates.
• Stasher bags are recyclable through our partnership with TerraCycle®.

What is food-grade silicone?

Our Stasher bags are made from platinum, food-grade silicone that meets FDA and EU requirements for food contact and safety. Silicone is made from alternating silica and oxygen molecules. The silicone that makes up our Stasher bags is made from these foundational elements and combined with carbon to create a raw silicone product. This material is then cured under heat and pressure to create the silicone parts that are sturdy, inert and versatile.

While mason jars and other glass containers are great for plastic-free storage, they can break, take up a lot of space, and are inconvenient for taking on the go. Stasher bags make it easy to store your food at home or on-the-go while keeping what you’re eating away from plastic.

Is silicone recyclable? 

Yes. Check your local recycling center for information on silicone recycling options. Better yet, if your Stasher bag is damaged or has reached the end of its life you can recycle it by sending it back to us! Most recycling facilities don’t accept silicone. Through our partnership with TerraCycle®, your bag can be responsibly recycled and avoid ending up in a landfill.

Is silicone safe for food? 

Yep! Our silicone sous vide Stasher bags are safe to store food, put in the microwave, freezer, oven, and dishwasher. You can even cook right in your Stasher bag. It won’t leak, break down, or degrade over time.

Is silicone BPA free? 

Food-grade silicone, the material we use to make Stasher bags, is free from BPS, BPA, lead, latex or phthalates.

Is silicone better than single-use plastic? 

While silicone replacements alone won’t fix our global single-use plastic problems, swapping single-use items for reusables is a step in the right direction. One Stasher replaces 100s of single-use plastic bags.

Is silicone safe to cook with? 

Yes. Stasher bag’s food-grade silicone can be used throughout your kitchen: microwaved, baked in the oven up to 425°F, and even thrown in your dishwasher for easy cleaning with the rest of your dishes. You can freeze them, and hey — your silicone Stasher bags can be safely used to sous vide!

Ready to life life with less plastic? Check out our full product line and follow us on Instagram for more info and inspo from our growing community!