Non-biodegradable polymers, such as polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), fluorocarbons, and polyolefins, are types of plastics that do not degrade naturally in the environment. They are typically made from fossil-based sources, particularly petrochemicals, and they are often referred to as conventional plastics.
These materials can persist for hundreds or even thousands of years in the environment, contributing to long-term pollution and posing risks to wildlife and ecosystems (Andrady, 2015).
Reference:
Andrady, A. L. (2015). Persistence of plastic litter in the oceans. In M. Bergmann, L. Gutow, & M. Klages (Eds.), Marine anthropogenic litter (pp. 57–72). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16510-3_3
