Countdown is taking a leaf out of Lego’s book, creating a new set of collectable toys made of 80 per cent recycled plastics that allow customers to build “their own environmentally-friendly supermarket”.

The new collectables, which are known as Countdown Bricks, will be available in-store and online from Friday, and were made from items that would have otherwise ended up in landfill: such as fridges, suitcases, plastic handles, and googles.

These items have been fashioned into replicas of Countdown related items – such as aisles, team members, and solar panels.

Countdown’s director of brand and Countdown X Sally Copland said sustainability was a non-negotiable when designing the new toys.

“We know our customers love collectables and we’ve worked hard to create something shareable and fun that will spark the imagination of little and big kids alike time and time again,” Copland said.

The bricks are certified by Environmental Choice New Zealand, and will be given out in packs that are awarded with customers spend $30 at Countdown. There will be 40 unique packs to collect.

“[And], for those customers who don’t want to collect, we’ll also have specially marked boxes in-store where you can donate unwanted Bricks to Oranga Tamariki for kids in care, so they can be loved by someone else,” Copland said.