Actual size of the sponge 4.5 - 5 inches in width. This luxurious Sea Wool sponge is super soft and perfect for working up a rich lather for bath and shower body cleansing. These sponges can last 6 months to 1 year with normal care. Sustainably harvested in Caribbean Sea and hand processed in UK. Natural sea sponges are a biodegradable renewable natural resource. Scientific studies have confirmed that regular harvesting of the sponges enhances the health and population. They carefully monitor our divers who carry special licences to fish for sponges. All the sponges are inspected by the relevant Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to be certified for export. The divers harvest the sponges individually by cutting the sponge at the base, leaving the 'roots' intact and enabling the sponge to re-grow. Sponges also have the ability to regenerate from the smallest fragment so when the sponges are disturbed by the divers moving on the sea bed they release cells and multiply. Areas that are fished from sponges will have a larger sponge population that one that is not. All the materials used in the packaging and processing are recyclable. At The Natural Sea Sponge Company we still use the old traditional methods of the sponge industry to process, measure and prepare sponges for sale. They carefully monitor every stage in the production of natural sponges from the sourcing by their divers to the packaging of the final product. Their sponges under go 42 stages of processing by hand and the final stages are always carried out in their London warehouse. This ensures they have complete quality control from beginning to end.