When choosing daily living aids, grip is only part of the story. The material behind that grip matters just as much. Tenura’s silicone range was developed to be 100% phthalate free, offering a safer, longer lasting and more reliable alternative to products made from heavily plasticised PVC.
Many low-cost grip products on the market rely on soft PVC materials. PVC is naturally rigid, so manufacturers often add plasticisers to make it soft, flexible and grippy. These plasticisers are commonly used because they are inexpensive and can create an initial feeling of softness. However, that softness is not always permanent.
Over time, plasticisers can migrate or leach out of the material. When this happens, the product can become harder, less flexible and less effective at gripping. In practical terms, the product may feel good when it is new but gradually lose the very properties it was purchased for.
Tenura takes a different approach. Our silicone daily living aids are made from high-quality silicone, not heavily plasticised PVC. This means they do not depend on phthalate plasticisers to create grip. The grip is part of the silicone material itself, helping Tenura products maintain their performance over time.
What Are Phthalates?
Phthalates are a group of chemicals often used as plasticisers. Their role is to make rigid plastics softer and more flexible. In some products, particularly soft PVC items, phthalates are used to create a flexible texture that feels comfortable and initially provides grip.
The issue is that these chemicals are not always permanently bound into the material. Over time, they can move out of the product’s surface. This is why some plasticised products can feel tacky, oily or different as they age.
For products that are handled frequently, this matters. Daily living aids are often used directly by hand, placed near food preparation areas, used by vulnerable users, or relied upon in care and clinical environments. Material quality is therefore not just a technical detail – it directly affects safety, comfort, hygiene and long-term performance.
Why Tenura Chose Silicone Instead of Plasticised PVC
Tenura was developed to be different from conventional soft PVC grip products. Instead of using cheaper plasticised materials, the Tenura silicone range was designed around 100% silicone.
Silicone is naturally flexible, durable and grip-enhancing without the need for phthalate plasticisers. This gives Tenura products a clear advantage: they are not dependent on chemicals leaching to maintain softness or grip.
A Tenura product is designed to perform consistently from day one through long-term use. The material does not become rigid in the same way that plasticised PVC can once plasticisers have migrated out. This helps Tenura daily living aids retain their feel, flexibility and grip performance for years.
For users, this means greater confidence. For occupational therapists, physiotherapists, carers and resellers, it means recommending a product that is designed for durability, repeated handling and everyday use.
Why Long-Term Grip Performance Matters
Grip aids are often used by people who rely on them for daily independence. This includes people with arthritis, reduced hand strength, tremors, limited mobility, poor coordination, stroke-related weakness, fatigue or age-related dexterity changes.
If a grip product loses flexibility or becomes rigid, it can stop doing the job it was intended to do. A jar opener may become harder to use. A grip mat may become less effective. A cutlery grip may feel less comfortable in the hand. A product that was originally purchased to support independence may gradually become less useful.
Tenura silicone products are designed to avoid this issue. Because the material does not rely on phthalate plasticisers, the grip performance remains more stable over time. The product does not need to release chemicals to feel soft or grippy. The material itself provides the performance.
This is one of the key reasons Tenura products are trusted across domestic, care and clinical environments.
The Problem With Heavily Plasticised PVC Grip Products
Heavily plasticised PVC products can appear attractive because they are often cheaper to produce. They may feel soft at first and may provide an initial grip-enhancing effect. However, the lower upfront cost can come with compromises.
As plasticisers migrate out of the material, the product can:
- Become harder
- Lose flexibility
- Feel less comfortable
- Lose grip performance
- Become less durable
- Change in texture over time
- Become less suitable for repeated handling
This is particularly important for products used close to the skin, in kitchens, in care settings or by people who may have reduced strength or sensitivity. If a product is designed to be held in the hand, used on a table, wrapped around cutlery or relied upon during daily tasks, the material needs to remain stable and reliable.
Tenura’s phthalate-free silicone construction helps avoid the short lifespan and material degradation associated with cheaper plasticised alternatives.
Safer Materials for Daily Living Aids
Tenura products are often used by people who need additional support with everyday activities. This includes end users, older adults, people with disabilities, people recovering from illness or injury, and those receiving care at home or in professional environments.
For these users, product safety matters. A grip aid should not only work well – it should also be made from a material suitable for regular contact and repeated use.
Tenura silicone products are:
- 100% phthalate free
- Made from silicone, not heavily plasticised PVC
- Non-toxic
- Latex-free
- Durable
- Flexible
- Grip-enhancing
- Suitable for domestic and clinical environments
- Designed to support independent living
Many products in the Tenura range also include antimicrobial properties, helping to reduce the harbouring of bacteria, mould and fungi. This makes the range particularly suitable for care homes, clinics, therapy environments and shared-use settings where hygiene is a priority.
Consistent Performance From Day 1 to Year 10
One of the strongest benefits of Tenura silicone is consistency. With heavily plasticised PVC, the product can change as the plasticisers leave the material. It may start soft and grippy, then gradually become harder and less effective.
Tenura products are developed to avoid this performance drop. Because the grip comes from the silicone itself, the product does not depend on phthalates or cost-saving plasticisers. This means the material can continue to perform for many years when used and cared for correctly.
From day one to year ten, Tenura silicone products are designed to retain their essential properties: grip, flexibility, comfort and durability.
This is especially valuable for daily living aids, where reliability is not optional. Users need products that continue to work as expected, not products that degrade after repeated use.
Why This Matters for Occupational Therapists, Carers and Resellers
For occupational therapists, physiotherapists, carers and healthcare professionals, recommending the right product means considering more than immediate function. It also means considering hygiene, durability, material safety and long-term value.
A cheaper grip product may seem suitable at first, but if it becomes rigid, loses grip or changes texture, it can create frustration for the user and may need replacing sooner. Tenura’s silicone range offers a higher-quality alternative that is designed for repeated use and long-term reliability.
For resellers and distributors, this also provides a clear point of difference. Tenura is not simply another range of anti-slip daily living aids. It is a silicone range developed to be phthalate free, non-toxic, durable and suitable for professional environments as well as domestic use.
Choose Phthalate-Free Silicone With Tenura
Tenura’s silicone range was developed to provide a better alternative to heavily plasticised PVC products. Instead of relying on cheap plasticisers to create temporary softness and grip, Tenura uses high-quality silicone to deliver long-term performance.
This matters because daily living aids are handled regularly, often by people who depend on them for comfort, safety and independence. A grip product should remain effective, safe and reliable over time.
By choosing Tenura, users, carers, therapists and resellers can choose a range that is 100% phthalate free, latex-free, non-toxic and made from durable silicone. It is a material choice that supports safer handling, better long-term grip and greater confidence in everyday use.
