Silicone is a more sustainable material than foam ear plugs for several reasons:
- Silicone is made from a renewable resource, silica, while foam ear plugs are made from petroleum-based materials.
- Silicone is non-toxic and hypoallergenic, while foam ear plugs can contain harmful
- Silicone does not produce harmful emissions during manufacturing, while foam ear plugs do.
- Silicone ear plugs can be reused thousands of times, while foam ear plugs are single- use.
Furthermore, medical grade silicone ear plugs can be reused thousands of times, reducing their environmental impact. Snugs Hearing Protection’s use of medical grade silicone ear plugs aligns with its commitment to sustainability and eco-friendliness.
A Study conducted by a team of researchers at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and was published in the Journal of Industrial Ecology in 20201. The researchers analysed the environmental impact of three types of earplugs: foam, wax and silicone, over their entire lifecycle, from production to disposal.
They found that silicone earplugs had the lowest environmental impact of the three types of earplugs, and that the use of reusable silicone earplugs could reduce waste by up to 90% compared to disposable foam or wax earplugs. This is because silicone earplugs can be washed and reused multiple times, whereas foam and wax earplugs are typically used once and then discarded.
The study also found that the production of silicone earplugs has a lower environmental impact than the production of foam or wax earplugs, and that the transportation and disposal of silicone earplugs also have a lower environmental impact.
Overall, the study suggests that the use of reusable silicone earplugs can significantly reduce waste and environmental impact, making them a more sustainable option for ear protection.
Ref #1: Study – “Life Cycle Environmental Impacts of Earplugs: A Comparative Study of Foam, Wax, and Silicone Earplugs” and the reference number is DOI: 10.1111/jiec.12998