Plastic bags, which pose a significant threat for ocean wildlife, need approximately 20 years to decompose, depending on the conditions in which they are disposed of.
Plastic toothbrushes, which are typically made from polypropylene, can take up to an estimated 500 years to degrade/decompose.
Lifecycle of selected plastic products
(in years to decomposition)
Most figures are estimated since plastics have not existed long enough to observe actual decomposition of these materials. Decomposition rates also depend on factors such as exposure to heat and oxygen.
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WWF. (July 1, 2021). Lifecycle of selected plastic products (in years to decomposition) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 30, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1192549/lifecycle-selected-plastic-product/
WWF. "Lifecycle of selected plastic products (in years to decomposition)." Chart. July 1, 2021. Statista. Accessed December 30, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1192549/lifecycle-selected-plastic-product/
WWF. (2021). Lifecycle of selected plastic products (in years to decomposition). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 30, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1192549/lifecycle-selected-plastic-product/
WWF. "Lifecycle of Selected Plastic Products (in Years to Decomposition)." Statista, Statista Inc., 1 Jul 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1192549/lifecycle-selected-plastic-product/
WWF, Lifecycle of selected plastic products (in years to decomposition) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1192549/lifecycle-selected-plastic-product/ (last visited December 30, 2024)
Lifecycle of selected plastic products (in years to decomposition) [Graph], WWF, July 1, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1192549/lifecycle-selected-plastic-product/