South Australia will become the first place in the world to ban fish-shaped plastic soy sauce dispensers, known as shoyu-tai, under a new law on single-use plastics coming into force on 1 September. The ban targets polyethylene containers containing less than 30ml of soy sauce that are pre-filled with a lid, cap or stopper.
The iconic dispensers, invented in 1954 by Teruo Watanabe of Osaka-based Asahi Sogyo, were originally named the 'Lunch Charm'. They spread globally from Japan as cheap industrial plastics enabled mass production. However, their small size makes them prone to becoming litter, according to South Australian Environment Minister Dr Susan Close.
'Each plastic fish container is 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,' Close said. She added that the ban encourages alternatives such as bulk bottles or refillable dispensers.
The ban also includes other single-use plastics like cutlery and expanded polystyrene food packaging, including pre-packed instant noodle bowls. Plastic sachets of soy sauce will still be allowed.
Marine ecologist Dr Nina Wootton from the University of Adelaide warned that the fish-shaped plastics pose a particular threat to marine life, as they can be mistaken for food. 'Since they are quite a thick plastic, it does take quite a while for them to degrade,' she said.
Cip Hamilton from the Australian Marine Conservation Society praised the ban as a small step but called for stronger laws to reduce plastic production and hold businesses accountable. 'What our oceans really need is for state and federal governments to introduce strong laws that reduce plastic production and consumption,' Hamilton said.
