In 2020, we launched the Light Soy lamp to shine a light on the big problem with small plastics, like the iconic soy fish, and to help stop ocean pollution at the sauce. Since then, we’ve inspired thousands of people to rethink waste and funded the cleanup of more than 34 tonnes of plastic.
But sushi’s problem with single-use plastic hasn’t gone away.
The soy fish are cute and convenient, but while they serve their purpose for just a few minutes, they can persist in the environment for hundreds of years.
They’ve become a symbol of a wasteful, linear economy that’s harming both people and the planet.
If they escape into nature, they can harm marine life and break down into microplastics, potentially ending up in our food supply and back in our sushi.
To give a sense of the 'scale' of the problem: 40% of the world's plastic waste is from packaging. The world consumes around 855 billion single-use plastic sachets annually , and we estimate that 8–12 billion soy fish have been used since their invention in the 1950s.
Those plastics haven’t disappeared. They remain in landfills and the environment, slowly fragmenting into ever smaller pieces. Scientists now find microplastics everywhere: from the deepest ocean trenches to the summit of Mount Everest and even in our brains.
For the past five years, we’ve been highlighting this problem. But awareness alone isn’t enough. We’ve always wanted to find a better alternative than simply “going without.”
At the same time, single-use plastic bans are coming. A ban has already started in South Australia and Hobart, Tasmania, and another announced for 2030 in New South Wales. More will follow.
Sushi-lovers on the go need a way to enjoy soy sauce without leaving plastic in their wake.
We set out to create a practical, planet-friendly and commercial alternative to the iconic soy fish. We collaborated with leading sushi restaurants and award-winning designers Vert Design.
It's a small change, but we truly believe every drop matters.
Holy Carp! is filled fresh at the store, which allows us to use a more sustainable material and means the product is fresher. It also gives stores the flexibility to choose which sauce they provide.
We’ve also made Holy Carp! larger than a typical plastic soy fish after observing that many customers grab a handful rather than just one.
Find out more about Holy Carp or enquire now.
