BOOTHS supermarket customers in Knutsford are being encouraged to bring their own reusable containers to buy fresh meat and fish from their counters.

The family-owned grocery chain has launched the initiative to help reduce the amount of single-use plastic being used within the business.

Booths brand and innovations manager Matt Bruno said: ‘’We’re constantly striving to become a more environmentally friendly retailer.

“Enabling our customers to bring their own clean, lidded containers to purchase fresh meat and fish from our counters is a natural progression towards becoming more sustainable.’

“Booths continue to be proactive in phasing out single-use plastic and have completely removed plastic cutlery for their takeaway counter products and inside Booths branded pre-packaged food to go options.

“This move will prevent 500,000 pieces of plastic cutlery being used within Booths each year.”

Further initiatives include the following.

Changing pre-packed options to include less plastic waste and more recyclable materials.

Removal of plastic bottles from the Booths café, switching over to glass bottles and cans which are indefinitely recyclable.

Removal of plastic straws and introduction of paper straws.

Removal of loose produce bags, to be replaced with compostable loose produce bags.

Introduction of reusable cotton net bag for loose produce.

Introduction of cardholder saving on selected loose fruit and vegetables.

Introduction of LED lighting and CO2 fridges which are kinder to the environment to select stores.

Increased use of market-style fixtures to encourage shoppers to choose loose fruit and vegetables rather than pre-packed.