Countdown to get rid of micro-beads in all products by end of September

Countdown announced today it was working towards being completely plastic microbead free by the end of September 2017. Photo / File

The country's second biggest supermarket chain is planning to be rid of plastic microbeads in all its products by the end of September 2017.

The Government announced last week that the sale and manufacture of wash-off products containing tiny plastic microbeads will be banned by May next year due to the damage they are causing sea life.

The microbeads are often used as an exfoliating agent in skincare products and go down drains and end up in the waterways where they can be mistaken as food by marine life.

They can also be found in some shampoos, shaving creams, toothpastes and sunscreens.

Foodstuffs, which owns Pak n' Save and New World, has already removed all products with microbeads from its shelves and Countdown announced today it was working towards being completely plastic microbead free by the end of September 2017.

"We have been working with our suppliers over the past couple of months to ensure that they have a plan in place to phase out the use of plastic micro-beads from their products. This plan is now in final stages of implementation," a statement said.

Countdown's own-brand skin care and body wash products had been free from microbeads since the end of 2015.

The Government is banning microbeads in wash-off products which include personal care products for visual appearance, exfoliating, cleansing or abrasive cleaning purposes that contain plastic microbeads, as well as household, car and other cleaning products.