A small polyethylene fish-shaped soy sauce container, invented in 1954 and known as shoyu-tai or Lunch Charm, became globally ubiquitous in takeaway sushi packaging. South Australia will ban pre-filled soy sauce containers with a lid, cap or stopper that contain less than 30ml of soy sauce, effective 1 September. Plastic sachets remain allowed, but the government hopes sushi shops will use bulk bottles or refillable dispensers to reduce single-use plastic waste. Environment minister Dr Susan Close said the tiny containers are used for seconds yet are easily dropped, blown away or washed into drains, making them common beach and street litter. The ban also covers plastic cutlery and expanded polystyrene food packaging such as pre-packed instant bowl noodles.
The invention quickly spread around Japan and eventually worldwide, and it is estimated that billions have been produced in the last few decades. Under South Australia's new law, only pre-filled soy sauce containers with a lid, cap or stopper and containing less than 30ml of soy sauce will be banned. Plastic sachets will still be allowed but the government hopes bulk bottles or dispensers will be used in sushi shops instead.
The South Australian environment minister, Dr Susan Close, said that each plastic fish container was used for just seconds but their small size means they're easily dropped, blown away, or washed into drains, making them a frequent component of beach and street litter. They're a convenience packaging' item that can be replaced with bulk or refillable condiment solutions or more manageable alternatives, meaning their elimination directly reduces the volume of single-use plastic entering the waste stream, Close said.
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