Countdown supermarket is pledging to end the use of single-use plastic bags in its stores by the end of 2018.
The supermarket chain announced this morning it plans to phase the bags and reduce the price of its reusable bags to $1 beginning next week.
That's a decrease from their current price of $1.39.
Countdown's Managing Director Dave Chambers says they won't begin charging for single-use bags.
"Charging is also not the ideal outcome for the environment, because these bags are still provided."
Trials to replace plastic bags for Countdown's online deliveries is already underway across the country.
A Gisborne woman is urging Kiwis to change the way they use plastic, especially plastic bags.
Mr Chambers say by ceasing to supply plastic bags to customers they will stop 350 million plastic bags from ending up waste streams and the environment.
"We have been tracking customer sentiment for two years and our most recent research, concluded in August, indicates that 83 per cent of our customers support phasing-out single-use plastic carrier bags."
New World is asking New Zealanders to vote on whether to keep plastic bags free or impose a five or 10 cents charge to each plastic bag a customer uses at checkout.
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