Reinventing an Icon: Why the World’s Most Famous Fish Is Finally Going Plastic-Free in Europewide
It is a piece of design so common that it is almost invisible: the red-capped soy sauce fish.
For decades, it has been a staple of sushi takeaway and a playful burst of kitsch that quietly signals “dinner is served."
But for all its charm, that little fish has a massive problem. It is an environmental disaster used for seconds and lasting for centuries. Design should not just look good. It should do good. That is why Soyshi Supply is proud to announce the European arrival of the Holy Carp.
Designed by the award-winning Australian studio Heliograf, the Holy Carp is not just a replacement. It is an upgrade. We have taken the nostalgia of a global icon and stripped away the guilt, offering European restaurants a solution that is 100% plant-based, marine-safe, and undeniably premium.
A Design Classic, Evolved
The original plastic fish was a masterpiece of function but a failure of material.
When Heliograf set out to redesign it, the goal was not to kill the fish, but to save it.
The Holy Carp preserves the familiar fish silhouette that customers instantly recognize, while elevating the experience in every other way. Gone is the cheap, shiny plastic. In its place is a matte, tactile finish that feels organic in the hand. Slightly larger than the standard plastic pollutant, it holds a more generous serving of soy sauce—reducing the need for multiple tiny packets and the waste that comes with them.
It transforms a throwaway moment into a tactile ritual, one that finally matches the artistry of the sushi itself.
The Science of the “School”
So, what is the catch?
There isn’t one.
The Holy Carp is crafted from a special plant-based material derived from rapidly renewable biological sources. Unlike many so-called “bioplastics” that only break down under high-heat industrial composting conditions, the Holy Carp is designed for the real world.
It is fully biodegradable and compostable.
If it ends up in landfill, it breaks down.
If it escapes into the ocean, it does not fragment into microplastics or pose a hazard to marine life.
For a product shaped like a fish, that matters.
Europe’s 2026 Sustainability Shift
The timing of our European rollout could not be more critical. With 2026 marking a turning point in EU packaging regulations, the hospitality sector is under intense pressure to find alternatives that actually work.
Paper sachets leak.
Glass is impractical and expensive for takeaway.
Compostable solutions often compromise usability or aesthetics.
Soyshi Supply bridges that gap. We are bringing this Australian innovation to Europe because we believe sustainability should never feel like a downgrade. It should feel like progress.
It should feel like an upgrade.
Sushi Is an Art. Pollution Is Not.
Chefs spend years perfecting their rice, sourcing the freshest fish, and balancing flavor, texture, and temperature. Sending that masterpiece out the door with a piece of cheap, single-use plastic undermines the entire experience.
The Holy Carp is the finishing touch your takeaway deserves. It signals care—for detail, for design, and for the future of the oceans. It tells your customers that sustainability is not an afterthought, but part of your craft.
As we launch across France, Germany, and the Benelux region this February, we invite forward-thinking brands to join our school.