Meet the Materials: REGRIND® Silicone

Our passion for planet Earth isn’t just reflected in our environmental projects—it’s also the foundation of House of Marley’s sustainable audio products. A big part of that involves designing premium speakers, headphones and turntables starts with eco-friendly materials like REGRIND® silicone. 

Our REGRIND® silicone is a uniquely crafted material made from silicone scraps that would otherwise go to waste. You can find REGRIND® silicone throughout our products, including our turntable slipmats, the backing of our speakers and protective bumpers for our wireless chargers.

We upcycle post-process and post-consumer silicone to create Earth-friendly products with premium sound and unique aesthetics. Here’s a closer look at the environmental benefits of REGRIND® silicone. 

Versatile Upcycled Material 

Upcycling is the process of taking used material and turning it into new, high-quality items. In addition to its eco-friendly status, silicone can be upcycled repeatedly without losing its core advantages. 

REGRIND® silicone is the perfect eco-friendly material for House of Marley products. It’s durable, waterproof and can withstand temperatures up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. So when you hit the beach with our Redemption ANC 2 True Wireless Earbuds, you can listen to your music without worrying about your ‘buds overheating or getting splashed with water. 

An Eco-Friendly Alternative to Plastic

REGRIND® silicone is an eco-friendly alternative to virgin plastic that’s better for everyone, including aquatic life and soil organisms. 

But we aren’t the only ones who see the value in plastic alternatives. Experts are making startling discoveries that suggest we should quit relying on plastic altogether. Microplastics are becoming a significant hazard for marine life, not to mention the growing “plastic island” known as The Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

As scientists race to discover more about the danger of microplastics, sustainable alternatives like upcycled silicone are changing the status quo. While plastic waste is hazardous to the environment and human health, our REGRIND® silicone is a non-toxic material that doesn’t produce extra waste, even if it reaches a landfill or an ecosystem.

Saves Landfill Space

House of Marley also uses REGRIND® silicone to save landfill space and shrink our footprint in the process. 

It’s no secret that recycling reduces  the amount of waste sent to landfills. Over the past 60 years, municipal solid waste management—the official term for trash thrown out by consumers—has improved significantly. Data from the EPA shows landfilling of waste has decreased from 94 percent of the amount generated in 1960 to 50 percent of the amount generated in 2018—and upcycling silicone plays an important role.

Although silicone doesn’t break down into smaller particles like plastic, it still isn’t biodegradable, which means it won’t break down naturally. However, we can save 30 cubic yards of landfill space for every ton of recycled silicone rubber—a great reason to incorporate REGRIND® silicone instead of virgin rubber.

Reduces Energy Usage

At House of Marley, resource conservation is essential to our ongoing sustainability goals. Upcycling silicone scraps takes less energy than making virgin silicone—yet another powerful way we minimize our impact on the environment. 

According to ECO U.S.A., recycling one ton of silicone rubber saves 5,774 kWh of energy, 16.3 barrels of oil and 98 billion BTUs of energy over making virgin silicone. That means you can make a difference just by enjoying music through our Get Together Duo Bluetooth Speakers instead of products that don’t use upcycled materials. 

Lessens Air Pollution

Environmental sustainability also means caring for the air that we breathe. Our REGRIND® silicone eliminates the need to rely on large-scale production that pollutes the air. 

As we’ve mentioned a few times, producing virgin silicone isn’t an eco-friendly process. It involves burning fossil fuels that produce carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide. According to The University of California’s in-depth guide about global change, these greenhouse gasses can remain in the atmosphere for decades to hundreds of years. 

Upcycling silicone is safer than incinerating used scraps or making it from scratch. With REGRIND® silicone in our lineup of materials, we can reduce the volume of greenhouse gasses that enter the Earth’s atmosphere. 

Choose Sustainably Active Audio

REGRIND® silicone is Earth-friendly, versatile and infinitely reusable. Check out House of Marley’s lineup of sustainable turntables, headphones and Bluetooth speakers to experience the signature Marley sound.