South Australia leads the world with ban on plastic fish while global plastic treaty talks fails

South Australia has taken a pioneering step to reduce single-use plastic waste by banning fish-shaped soy sauce containers under new legislation now in effect as global talks to develop a landmark treaty to end plastic pollution failed again.

South Australia’s new law targets small polyethylene soy sauce “fish” containers known as shoyu-tai, often bundled with take-away sushi, as well as other single-use plastic items like plastic cutlery and polystyrene food packaging.

Under the new rules pre-filled fish-shaped containers under 30 ml are prohibited. Plastic sachets of soy sauce remain allowed, but authorities are encouraging sushi shops to shift toward bulk dispensers or refillable condiment systems. Environment Minister Susan Close said the tiny fish containers are used only briefly, but their lightweight design means they are easily lost, blown away or washed into drains, where they contribute significantly to litter and marine pollution.

Marine experts have argued that these plastic dispensers pose specific ecological risks: they can be mistaken for prey by marine animals, and until they degrade (if they do), they serve as persistent pollution both in whole form and as microplastics.

Meanwhile, in Geneva, negotiators from some 170-plus nations concluded the latest round of the international plastics treaty talks without agreement — marking another failure in a multiyear effort to establish a globally binding framework to curb plastic pollution, this time largely blamed on the US.

Key points of contention during treaty talks included whether the treaty should impose caps on overall plastic production, how to regulate harmful chemicals used in plastics and how to balance the needs of oil and petrochemical producing nations versus environmental and public health concerns.

The failure to agree is being widely criticized by environmental scientists, environmental groups, and many countries who say the world can no longer afford more delay.

South Australia’s ban, though limited in scope, demonstrates a model of how local or regional action can tackle plastic waste in a direct and tangible way — especially for items whose environmental harm is well understood.

By contrast, the collapse of the treaty negotiations exposes how difficult it is for the global community to agree on prevention measures, especially on regulating the production side of the plastics life cycle. Waste-management and recycling remain more politically palatable, but many experts warn that without production limits, those downstream strategies will be overwhelmed.

The treaty’s failure raises questions about how countries can hold each other accountable, how to enforce meaningful change, and whether the current diplomatic approach is robust enough to meet the scale of the plastic pollution crisis.

States or regions may adopt more bans and regulations on single-use and lightweight plastics (as South Australia has done), especially for “convenience” packaging that is inexpensive and short-lived. Consumer awareness and business shifts might accelerate, with more restaurants, food retailers, and suppliers moving to bulk or refillable systems, alternative materials, or plastic-free designs.

Pressure may increase for weaker nations in treaty negotiations to commit to stronger positions or for new coalitions of “high ambition” countries to push forward with parallel agreements or standards.

While South Australia’s plastic fish container ban is symbolic, its immediate policy implementation offers a real cut in pollution. By contrast, the failure of the international plastics treaty negotiations underscores how much global governance still lags behind both environmental science, the effects of plastic waste globally and public expectation.

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References & further reading:

• Australia, P. O. S. (2025, September 1). Fish-shaped soy sauce containers and other single-use plastics now banned in SA. Premier of South Australia. https://www.premier.sa.gov.au/media-releases/news-items/fish-shaped-soy-sauce-containers-and-other-single-use-plastics-now-banned-in-sa

• Close-Brown, E. (2025, September 1). Australian ban on fish-shaped plastic soy sauce dispensers a world first. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/aug/31/south-australia-bans-soy-sauce-fish-packets-in-world-first-to-cut-single-use-plastics

• ABC News. (2025, September 1). Nation-first ban on fish-shaped plastic soy sauce containers begins in SA. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-01/fish-shaped-soy-sauce-containers-banned-from-in-sa/105719368

• “Abject failure”: Talks on landmark plastics treaty end in Geneva with no agreement. (2025, August 15). Euronews. https://www.euronews.com/green/2025/08/15/abject-failure-talks-on-landmark-plastics-treaty-end-in-geneva-with-no-agreement