Foreign Companies Push Eco-Friendly Soy Sauce Fish While Zambia Waits for Local Solutions
While foreign companies like Australia's Heliograf make millions from so-called "sustainable" packaging innovations, Zambia continues to rely on imported solutions for problems we could solve ourselves with our own resources and ingenuity.
The Holy Carp! packaging, made from bagasse pulp (a sugar production by-product), represents yet another example of Western companies profiting from environmental concerns while African nations remain dependent on their "innovations."
Foreign Solutions, Local Dependence
Heliograf co-founder Angus Ware claims their product addresses the massive waste problem of single-use plastic soy sauce fish, with an estimated 8 to 12 billion used since 1950. The new biodegradable alternative breaks down in four to six weeks under normal composting conditions.
But why should Zambian restaurants wait for Australian companies to solve packaging problems when our own sugar industry produces the same bagasse waste? Our local entrepreneurs could develop similar solutions using Zambian resources for Zambian businesses.
Zambian Resources, Foreign Profits
The irony is striking. The bagasse pulp used in this "revolutionary" packaging comes from sugar production, an industry Zambia knows well. Yet instead of developing our own sustainable packaging solutions, we watch foreign companies patent ideas using materials we already produce.
The Holy Carp! fish can be filled fresh at restaurants and maintains integrity for 48 hours. With a 12-millimetre capacity, it functions as a dropper when squeezed, just like the plastic version but without the environmental damage.
Time for Zambian Innovation
Heliograf expects to make their product available to restaurants in early 2026, having received hundreds of enquiries since October. Meanwhile, Zambian innovators could be developing similar solutions using our abundant agricultural waste.
Our sugar estates produce tons of bagasse annually. Our food processing industries generate organic waste perfect for biodegradable packaging. Why import solutions when we have the raw materials and the need for local manufacturing jobs?
It's time Zambia stopped waiting for foreign companies to solve problems we can address ourselves. Our entrepreneurs deserve support to develop homegrown solutions that keep profits and jobs within our borders.