Australian state to ban iconic fish-shaped soy sauce bottles

South Australia is taking a major step to protect the environment by banning fish-shaped soy sauce bottles. These small plastic containers, which are commonly found in Asian restaurants and takeaways, will no longer be allowed to be sold or given out by shops and businesses in the state starting Monday. The ban is part of a larger effort to reduce single-use plastics, which are items that are used once and then thrown away. The government says that these fish-shaped bottles are used for only a few seconds but can stay in the environment for decades or even centuries if they are littered.

Susan Close, the Environment Minister and Deputy Premier for South Australia, explained that the ban builds on laws passed last year that already stopped the use of plastic supermarket bags, straws, drink stirrers, cotton buds, and confetti. The goal is to reduce pollution, lower carbon emissions, and protect marine life. Even though the soy sauce bottles are made from polyethylene, a recyclable plastic, their small size makes it hard for recycling machines to process them. As a result, most of these bottles end up as waste instead of being recycled.

The new rule covers any pre-filled 30ml soy sauce container with a lid, cap, or stopper. The fish-shaped bottles, which were invented in Japan in 1954 by Teruo Watanabe, are the most recognizable. Originally, they were made from ceramic or glass, but they became popular when they were switched to plastic because it was easier and cheaper to produce. These bottles became a favorite way for people to add soy sauce to their takeaway sushi.

Despite the ban, people will still be able to enjoy soy sauce with their sushi, as larger bottles and sachets are not affected. The government says that if no action is taken, the amount of plastic entering the ocean every year will triple by 2040, reaching 29 million tonnes. South Australia wants to lead the way in fighting plastic pollution and protecting the environment. Plastic waste in the ocean can harm swimmers and marine animals, so this ban is an important step toward keeping the sea clean and safe for everyone.