Foodstuffs serves up reuse trial with Bonson as Govt backtracks on plastic policy

Foodstuffs sustainable packaging programme manager Debra Goulding says reuse is tricky in supermarkets. (Image: Foodstuffs)

Cécile Meier

Tue, 01 Jul 2025

Foodstuffs is rolling out a trial in six stores to see if shoppers will embrace reusable plastic deli containers.Auckland manufacturer Bonson Industrial has received $329,725 from the Ministry for the Environment's now-defunct Plastics Innovation Fund to pilot the service.Customers will be able to “tap to borrow” a polypropylene container at the deli counter and return it via a smart bin within four weeks. The containers are free to borrow, and Bonson estimates each could be reused up to 50 times. If customers fail to retur...

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