South Australian law on single-use plastic packaging coming into force on 1 September will ban polyethylene containers known as shoyu-tai in Japan

The device known as shoyu-tai (or soy-sauce snapper in Japanese) was invented in 1954 by Teruo Watanabe, the founder of Osaka-based company Asahi Sogyo, according to a report from Japan’s Radio Kansai.

It was then common for glass and ceramic containers to be used but the advent of cheap industrial plastics allowed the creation of a small polyethylene container in the shape of a fish, officially named the “Lunch Charm”.

The invention quickly spread around Japan and eventually worldwide, and it is estimated that billions have been produced.

  • bitwolf@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    261·
    7 days ago

    Keep in mind that PLA also leaks microplastics into food and could also be considered a risk to health just like other plastics.

    • elucubra@sopuli.xyzEnglish
      7·
      7 days ago

      Aren’t these biodegradable, though? I imagine the body would eventually process them, unlike hydrocarbon based plastics.