Goodbye Plastic Fish: South Australia Bans Soy Sauce Containers

Small plastic fish with a red cap are, for many, simply part of takeaway sushi.

But this cute extra also comes with problems. In South Australia, the soy sauce containers have now been phased out: since September 1, they have been banned across the state. The goal is to cut down on single-use plastics and ease the burden on the environment.

Why the soy sauce fish in particular?

With all the microplastic out there, why are the tiny soy sauce fish among the first items to be banned in South Australia? There are several reasons: the containers are used for only a few seconds but remain in nature for decades. Because of their small size, they are easily lost, washed into sewers, or end up on beaches. In addition, they are too small to be captured in recycling processes. This means they either end up in landfills or break down into microplastics that remain in soil, waterways, and oceans.
Experts also warn that marine organisms may mistake the little containers for food and swallow them, with potentially harmful consequences.

Part of a bigger plan

The new law is part of a broader strategy against single-use plastics. Back in September 2023, South Australia already banned items such as shopping bags, stirrers, cups, cotton swabs, confetti, as well as balloon sticks and ribbons. Since 2021, local businesses have taken more than eight million single-use plastic items out of circulation.
Alongside the soy sauce fish, the new rules also cover plastic straws, plastic cutlery, non-compostable fruit and vegetable labels, and EPS noodle cups.

A small step with a big impact

The decision from South Australia highlights how even the most inconspicuous everyday objects can become part of a larger environmental problem.

In the future, more sustainable alternatives are set to replace the plastic fish – and other states may soon follow.

Photo by Paul Joseph via Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 DE.