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.

  • gandalf_der_12te@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
    1·
    7 hours ago

    I think the issue is more about people not giving a shit

    but do these trash cans have funny jokes on them like these ones:

    “mist” is trash in german

    • cley_faye@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      3 hours ago

      Eh. No jokes, no. The most engaging thing I remember seeing around in the city was a “vote” panel for cigarette butts with silly questions; but even that has gone away.

      It is unfortunate that we’re at this point. Hopefully other places do fare better.