The Problem with Soy Sauce ‘Fish’
With Waste Action Maleny
You’ve probably seen or used the tiny plastic soy sauce ‘fish’ that come with takeaway sushi. They’re cute and convenient, but come with a problem.
Every year, millions of these single-use plastic containers are discarded, either into landfill because they can’t be recycled (too tiny), or as litter. They end up in waterways, rivers, oceans and on our beaches (including the tiny red caps). They’re often mistaken for food by marine life, causing death by starvation when ingested.
When discarded, they break down into microplastic particles (it can take hundreds of years), causing damage to the environment and entering the food chain, creating potential human health problems.
Recognising this as unsustainable, South Australia is banning these and other single-use plastic sauce containers from September 1. Hopefully other states will follow.
Meantime, what can we do?
• Ask for soy sauce from a reusable bottle when you buy takeaway sushi.
• Take your own reusable soy sauce bottle if you’re a regular sushi eater.
• Add your voice to groups calling for a ban on all single-use plastics, including soy sauce containers.
