Supermarket chain Countdown now is allowing customers to bring their own containers to use for seafood, over-the-counter butchery and delicatessen items in stores nationwide in an effort to eliminate waste.

After a successful trial in 18 supermarkets, Countdown said it will now accept bring your own (BYO) containers for food sold over the counter in all stores, giving customers the opportunity to reduce single-use plastic and reuse their own containers when they buy deli, meat and seafood items at the supermarket.

Kiri Hannifin, general manager of corporate affairs, safety and sustainability, said the company received positive feedback from the trial.

“We know Kiwis are passionate about reducing single-use plastic,” Hannifin said. “Reusing your own container is a small way to help and as Plastic Free July comes to an end, I’m very pleased to let our customers know that BYO containers are now a reality in Countdown stores.”

According to Hannifin, customers have also requested for them to switch to an eco-friendly dishwashing liquid when they have to give containers a quick clean before filling them.

“We’ve made this change and are now using Ecostore dishwashing liquid,” Hannifin said.

Countdown said allowing the use of BYO containers is just one of the many options it is working on in its commitment to reduce plastic. It also is auditing its own brand packaging, reducing plastic in the produce section, trialling different bag options in bakery, installing produce misting systems to remove the need for packaging on fruit and vegetables and supporting the return of the soft plastics recycling programme in a number of its Auckland stores.