Countdown trials produce with paper instead of plastic

Your shopping trolley could look very different soon. Photo: Supplied via NZH
Your shopping trolley could look very different soon. Photo: Supplied via NZH
Countdown is trialling the sale of produce wrapped in paper rather than plastic as part of a 10-week programme to test the viability of reducing plastic.

The "Unwrapped" trial kicked off yesterday in Auckland and more than 800 customers have already provided feedback in store.

Plastic produce bags have been removed as part of the trial, along with the "unwrapping" of 68 products that would normally come packed in plastic.

Countdown hopes customers will use reusable bags for produce. Plastic bags in the bulk food section have also been replaced with paper bags.

According to Countdown Ponsonby store manager Paul Maxwell, feedback has already been overwhelmingly positive.

"I think people are genuinely surprised about how different it looks," he said.

"Getting rid of plastic is something I hear a lot about from customers so it's awesome to be able to give them some real and tangible changes.

"It's going to take a bit of behaviour change from us all but from what I've seen this morning in my store, customers are really excited about giving it a go and are adapting really well already."