Save the Fish
Foam food box: how long does it take to break down in the sea?
Estimated time to break down in the sea: > 50 years. Source: Aquarium of the Bay (aquariumofthebay.org). No source gives a figure for foam food boxes, so we use the figure for a foamed plastic cup, the same material.
Foam food box: why is it harmful to the sea?
Same foam as a cup: crumbles into beads that animals mistake for food.
Foam food box: does it really disappear?
No. Foam crumbles into tiny beads that float, spread far and look like food to fish and birds.
Foam food box: how harmful is it compared with other trash?
Harm score 7 out of 10: lasts 3/4, toxic 2/3, wildlife 2/3. It ranks 14 of 31 on our list. This score is our own simple scale for comparing items in the game. It is not an official index.
Foam food box: what is it made of?
Material: Polystyrene foam (Styrofoam). A typical one is about 20 cm long and weighs about 8 g.
Foam food box: what can I do?
Say no to foam boxes and cups; bring your own cup for takeaway drinks.
Foam food box: what lasts longer, and what breaks down sooner?
Lasts longer: Foam cup, Rubber boot sole, Foam buoy. Breaks down sooner: Candy wrapper, Ice cream stick, Pencil.
Foam food box: where does this figure come from?
From “Marine Debris Prevention: decomposition key”, Aquarium of the Bay (San Francisco). Checked on 2026-10-15.
The source says“Foamed plastic cup 50 years”The source's limits (in English): Educational estimates 'in the marine environment'.