The Warehouse Group is scrapping plastic bags from its 254 stores by the end of the year.
Photo: 123rf.com
Instead, it will sell compostable plastic bags for 15 cents each at the Warehouse, Warehouse Stationary, Torpedo 7 stores and for free at Noel Leeming.
Countdown's first 10 supermarkets will be going plastic-bag free on 21 May, with the remaining 172 stores to follow by the end of the year.
The Warehouse said the compostable plastic bags decomposed within 12 weeks in compost and are non-toxic.
Customer experience officer David Benattar said the move followed a survey conducted last December.
Nearly 70 percent of about 600 respondents said they wanted a change.
"It was in fact driven by our customers telling us that they do want to shop with a retailer that offers bags, and they would much prefer to shop with a retailer that offers non-plastic bags."
Mr Benattar said the group had been looking at ways to minimise its impact on the environment.
"Introducing plant-based plastic bags is a really logical step in that direction," he said.
"Removing plastic bags from all our stores means we will be phasing out the 21 million bags we use every year."
WasteMINZ chief executive Paul Evans said the Warehouse had been pioneers in this area.
"They haven't just switched from one type of bag to another, they've also paired that with a price signal," he said.
"Ultimately they will be seeking a number of bags being used and that's the key thing we'd like to see."
Countdown also announced this week it is scrapping plastic bags.
Its first 10 supermarkets will be plastic bag free from May 21, and the remaining 172 stores will follow by the end of the year.