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. (June 19, 2018). Lifecycle of selected plastic products (in years to decomposition)* [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved January 25, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1192549/lifecycle-selected-plastic-product/
WWF. "Lifecycle of selected plastic products (in years to decomposition)*." Chart. June 19, 2018. Statista. Accessed January 25, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1192549/lifecycle-selected-plastic-product/
WWF. (2018). Lifecycle of selected plastic products (in years to decomposition)*. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: January 25, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1192549/lifecycle-selected-plastic-product/
WWF. "Lifecycle of Selected Plastic Products (in Years to Decomposition)*." Statista, Statista Inc., 19 Jun 2018, 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 January 25, 2022)
