South Australia is set to enact a ban on fish-shaped soy sauce containers as part of a broader initiative to eliminate single-use plastics. Effective September 1, businesses in the state will be prohibited from selling or distributing pre-filled 30ml soy sauce containers featuring a lid or cap. These containers have been commonly used in Asian restaurants and takeaways globally.
Environment Minister Susan Close stated that the containers, which are typically used for a brief moment, can persist in the environment for decades or even centuries if discarded improperly. This legislation follows the introduction of environmental measures in 2023 that already banned several plastic items, including carrier bags, straws, and cotton buds. The South Australian government aims to mitigate pollution and protect marine life with this latest action.
Interestingly, while these soy sauce containers are made from recyclable polyethylene, their small size makes them difficult for recycling machines to process, often resulting in them being discarded without recycling. Initially developed in Japan in 1954 by Teruo Watanabe, these iconic containers transitioned from ceramic and glass to plastic, becoming a popular choice for dispensing soy sauce with takeaway sushi.
Despite this ban, consumers will still have access to soy sauce as larger bottles and sachets remain unaffected. Government officials have highlighted the urgency of addressing plastic waste, warning that without intervention, the annual volume of plastic entering the oceans could triple by 2040, reaching approximately 29 million metric tonnes.
In a global context, Australia ranks seventh out of 25 countries in terms of efforts to manage plastic waste, according to a recent analysis of plastics waste management practices.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1ejwgq3zw0o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss