As with many things in the plastic free and environmentally friendly space, there is some debate around the use of silicone as an alterative to plastic. Some say it’s completely safe and recyclable, whilst others urge more caution. We’re taking the middle ground and consider, high quality food grade silicone a good alternative to plastic when used as seals (such as in some of our stainless steel lunch boxes), lids or grips (such as on our glass coffee/tea cups). It’s really durable and more sea-friendly than standard plastics (it won’t degrade into micro fragments). It also stands up better against heat and cold. It’s also BPA free, odourless, stain-resistant and hypoallergenic. That said, we would steer away from using cookware and baby utensils made of silicone especially when subjected to high temperatures or used as storage over longer periods. Some studies show it can become unstable and leach in certain conditions, albeit it’s still much safer than plastics.In terms of recycling, silicone can be recycled but it’s not so easy and does need to be handled by specialist recycling facilities. However, this is balanced by its durability – it has a very long life span and so it shouldn’t need to go anywhere near a recycling or waste facility for many, many years.Here’s some more reading if you’d like to dig further:https://lifewithoutplastic.com/silicone/