Asia's vendors grapple with rising costs of ever-present plastics

TAIPEI — Food vendors across Asia who rely on plastics for everything from bags to cups and containers are grappling with their rising costs, the result of the energy crisis sparked by the Middle East war. While the United States and Iran have reached a deal to halt the conflict, it will take time for markets to recover and supply flows to return to normal, with persistent concerns over traffic through the economically vital Strait of Hormuz. At Taipei's Songjiang market, chicken vendor Li