diff --git a/changelog/fragments/generalize-container-tool.yaml b/changelog/fragments/generalize-container-tool.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c17e92bcfa9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/fragments/generalize-container-tool.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+entries:
+  - description: >
+      The bundle build target now respects the CONTAINER_TOOL variable, allowing users to use alternative container tools like podman instead of docker.
+    kind: "change"
+    breaking: false 
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/internal/plugins/manifests/v2/init.go b/internal/plugins/manifests/v2/init.go
index 9d1708cf5d7..b6d609b0880 100644
--- a/internal/plugins/manifests/v2/init.go
+++ b/internal/plugins/manifests/v2/init.go
@@ -230,6 +230,9 @@ bundle: manifests kustomize operator-sdk ## Generate bundle manifests and metada
 `
 
 	makefileBundleFragmentNonGo = `
+# Container tool to use for building images
+CONTAINER_TOOL ?= docker
+
 .PHONY: bundle
 bundle: kustomize operator-sdk ## Generate bundle manifests and metadata, then validate generated files.
 	$(OPERATOR_SDK) generate kustomize manifests -q
@@ -241,7 +244,7 @@ bundle: kustomize operator-sdk ## Generate bundle manifests and metadata, then v
 	makefileBundleBuildPushFragment = `
 .PHONY: bundle-build
 bundle-build: ## Build the bundle image.
-	docker build -f bundle.Dockerfile -t $(BUNDLE_IMG) .
+	$(CONTAINER_TOOL) build -f bundle.Dockerfile -t $(BUNDLE_IMG) .
 
 .PHONY: bundle-push
 bundle-push: ## Push the bundle image.
@@ -303,7 +306,7 @@ endif
 # https://github.com/operator-framework/community-operators/blob/7f1438c/docs/packaging-operator.md#updating-your-existing-operator
 .PHONY: catalog-build
 catalog-build: opm ## Build a catalog image.
-	$(OPM) index add --container-tool docker --mode semver --tag $(CATALOG_IMG) --bundles $(BUNDLE_IMGS) $(FROM_INDEX_OPT)
+	$(OPM) index add --container-tool $(CONTAINER_TOOL) --mode semver --tag $(CATALOG_IMG) --bundles $(BUNDLE_IMGS) $(FROM_INDEX_OPT)
 
 # Push the catalog image.
 .PHONY: catalog-push
diff --git a/testdata/go/v4/memcached-operator/Makefile b/testdata/go/v4/memcached-operator/Makefile
index e726ae259f8..30c829b255d 100644
--- a/testdata/go/v4/memcached-operator/Makefile
+++ b/testdata/go/v4/memcached-operator/Makefile
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ bundle: manifests kustomize operator-sdk ## Generate bundle manifests and metada
 
 .PHONY: bundle-build
 bundle-build: ## Build the bundle image.
-	docker build -f bundle.Dockerfile -t $(BUNDLE_IMG) .
+	$(CONTAINER_TOOL) build -f bundle.Dockerfile -t $(BUNDLE_IMG) .
 
 .PHONY: bundle-push
 bundle-push: ## Push the bundle image.
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ endif
 # https://github.com/operator-framework/community-operators/blob/7f1438c/docs/packaging-operator.md#updating-your-existing-operator
 .PHONY: catalog-build
 catalog-build: opm ## Build a catalog image.
-	$(OPM) index add --container-tool docker --mode semver --tag $(CATALOG_IMG) --bundles $(BUNDLE_IMGS) $(FROM_INDEX_OPT)
+	$(OPM) index add --container-tool $(CONTAINER_TOOL) --mode semver --tag $(CATALOG_IMG) --bundles $(BUNDLE_IMGS) $(FROM_INDEX_OPT)
 
 # Push the catalog image.
 .PHONY: catalog-push
diff --git a/testdata/go/v4/monitoring/memcached-operator/Makefile b/testdata/go/v4/monitoring/memcached-operator/Makefile
index 4a4cf9d9935..e24d34aeb21 100644
--- a/testdata/go/v4/monitoring/memcached-operator/Makefile
+++ b/testdata/go/v4/monitoring/memcached-operator/Makefile
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ bundle: manifests kustomize operator-sdk ## Generate bundle manifests and metada
 
 .PHONY: bundle-build
 bundle-build: ## Build the bundle image.
-	docker build -f bundle.Dockerfile -t $(BUNDLE_IMG) .
+	$(CONTAINER_TOOL) build -f bundle.Dockerfile -t $(BUNDLE_IMG) .
 
 .PHONY: bundle-push
 bundle-push: ## Push the bundle image.
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ endif
 # https://github.com/operator-framework/community-operators/blob/7f1438c/docs/packaging-operator.md#updating-your-existing-operator
 .PHONY: catalog-build
 catalog-build: opm ## Build a catalog image.
-	$(OPM) index add --container-tool docker --mode semver --tag $(CATALOG_IMG) --bundles $(BUNDLE_IMGS) $(FROM_INDEX_OPT)
+	$(OPM) index add --container-tool $(CONTAINER_TOOL) --mode semver --tag $(CATALOG_IMG) --bundles $(BUNDLE_IMGS) $(FROM_INDEX_OPT)
 
 # Push the catalog image.
 .PHONY: catalog-push
diff --git a/testdata/helm/memcached-operator/Makefile b/testdata/helm/memcached-operator/Makefile
index 24d74b9ff10..fb8e67cc254 100644
--- a/testdata/helm/memcached-operator/Makefile
+++ b/testdata/helm/memcached-operator/Makefile
@@ -171,6 +171,9 @@ OPERATOR_SDK = $(shell which operator-sdk)
 endif
 endif
 
+# Container tool to use for building and pushing images
+CONTAINER_TOOL ?= docker
+
 .PHONY: bundle
 bundle: kustomize operator-sdk ## Generate bundle manifests and metadata, then validate generated files.
 	$(OPERATOR_SDK) generate kustomize manifests --interactive=false -q
@@ -180,7 +183,7 @@ bundle: kustomize operator-sdk ## Generate bundle manifests and metadata, then v
 
 .PHONY: bundle-build
 bundle-build: ## Build the bundle image.
-	docker build -f bundle.Dockerfile -t $(BUNDLE_IMG) .
+	$(CONTAINER_TOOL) build -f bundle.Dockerfile -t $(BUNDLE_IMG) .
 
 .PHONY: bundle-push
 bundle-push: ## Push the bundle image.
@@ -219,7 +222,7 @@ endif
 # https://github.com/operator-framework/community-operators/blob/7f1438c/docs/packaging-operator.md#updating-your-existing-operator
 .PHONY: catalog-build
 catalog-build: opm ## Build a catalog image.
-	$(OPM) index add --container-tool docker --mode semver --tag $(CATALOG_IMG) --bundles $(BUNDLE_IMGS) $(FROM_INDEX_OPT)
+	$(OPM) index add --container-tool $(CONTAINER_TOOL) --mode semver --tag $(CATALOG_IMG) --bundles $(BUNDLE_IMGS) $(FROM_INDEX_OPT)
 
 # Push the catalog image.
 .PHONY: catalog-push