Paper Receipts: The Unseen Environmental and Health Toll

Examining how everyday paper receipts fuel waste, pollution, and toxic exposure, and what we can do about it.

By Medha deb

Created on Sep 27, 2025

Examining how everyday paper receipts fuel waste, pollution, and toxic exposure, and what we can do about it.

From supermarket checkouts to coffee shops and pharmacies, paper receipts are a ubiquitous—and often overlooked—byproduct of modern commerce. While these slips of paper might seem trivial, their cumulative toll on forests, climate, and public health is surprisingly severe. This article delves deeply into the true cost of paper receipts, exposes the scale of their waste, highlights the dangerous chemicals they contain, and explores a future with more sustainable alternatives.

Why Focus on Paper Receipts?

We tend to overlook paper receipts as a minor inconvenience. Yet, their environmental footprint rivals some of the most pressing sustainability challenges of our time:

Resource-intensive production: Receipts consume enormous quantities of trees, water, and oil annually.
Pervasive waste: The vast majority end up discarded within days, creating landfills full of toxic, non-recyclable material.
Health hazards: Receipts frequently contain BPA or BPS, linked to hormone disruption and other health risks.

Despite the magnitude of these impacts, few consumers or even businesses are aware of the damage done by what is essentially a throwaway product.

The Astounding Scale of Paper Receipt Waste

Quantifying the environmental footprint of receipts brings the issue into sharp relief:

In the United States alone, up to 10-12.4 million trees are used annually to produce paper receipts.
Each year, the production of receipts in the US and the UK consumes 9–13.2 billion gallons of water, enough to meet the drinking water needs of millions of people.
This process also uses about 250 million gallons of oil in the US, compounding fossil fuel extraction and carbon emissions.
The receipts industry generates over 4 billion pounds of CO₂ emissions every year in the US, the equivalent of over 400,000 to 1 million cars on the road.
Over 686 million pounds of receipt paper waste is generated in the US annually, much of it destined for landfill.

Looking internationally, the numbers remain daunting. For instance, to supply the UK with receipts each year, 200,000 trees must be destroyed, along with 1.6 billion litres of water. And globally, the numbers only multiply further.

Why Are Receipts So Wasteful?

Receipts are a quintessential example of single-use paper. Studies and campaigns have found that more than 90% of all printed receipts are either lost, damaged, or simply tossed away shortly after being received. Most are not even read or needed, rendering their resource consumption unjustifiable.

The Hidden Chemical Threat: BPA and BPS

Beyond resource waste, paper receipts carry an even more insidious risk—dangerous chemical coatings. The vast majority of receipts are printed on thermal paper, using a heat-activated coating to display text. This coating typically contains Bisphenol A (BPA) or its chemical cousin, Bisphenol S (BPS):

93% of receipts tested in the US were found to contain either BPA or BPS.
BPA and BPS are well-known endocrine disruptors, meaning they mimic hormones and can interfere with hormonal regulation in the human body.
Exposure to bisphenols is linked to a range of health issues, including:

Fetal developmental problems
Reproductive impairment
Type 2 diabetes
Thyroid disorders
Certain cancers
Developmental and neurological issues

The amount of BPA on a single receipt can be 250–1,000 times higher than the amount found in food cans or plastic bottles.

How Are We Exposed?

BPA and BPS are easily transferred to anything that touches the surface of a receipt—including your hands. Handling receipts, especially frequently as retail or restaurant staff do, can increase the chemicals’ presence in the body, as they pass through the skin. Multiple exposures can add up, particularly in people who handle thousands of receipts per week as part of their job.

Environmental Costs: Deforestation, Climate, and Water Waste

The full life-cycle of a paper receipt—from resource extraction to disposal—places a heavy burden on the planet:

Deforestation: Millions of trees are felled each year, undermining vital carbon sinks and wildlife habitats.
Water and energy use: Receipt production is highly water- and energy-intensive, depleting critical resources.
Greenhouse gas emissions: Each stage releases CO₂—from logging and pulp processing to manufacturing, transportation, and final disposal.
Waste management: Receipt paper is contaminated with toxic chemicals and is not recyclable in most municipal systems, further increasing landfill volumes.

Receipt Waste by the Numbers

Resource/Impact	Annual US Receipt Use
Trees felled	10–12.4 million
Water consumed	9–13.2 billion gallons
Oil used	250 million gallons
CO₂ emissions	4+ billion pounds
Solid waste generated	686 million pounds

Receipts: Why Aren’t They Recyclable?

Given the vast amounts that end up in landfills, one might assume paper receipts could be part of municipal recycling streams. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case:

Thermal paper receipts are coated with BPA or BPS, making them hazardous to recycle with conventional paper products.
The chemicals can contaminate otherwise clean recycled paper or cardboard, turning a small slip of paper into a vector for pollution across the waste stream.

Even composting is not advisable, as bisphenols can leach into soils and waterways, persisting in the environment and impacting further organisms.

Human Health: Who’s Most at Risk?

While every consumer touches receipts occasionally, some groups face particularly elevated exposure risks:

Retail workers and cashiers: Can handle hundreds or thousands of receipts per week, leading to chronic and elevated levels of BPA/BPS in their bodies.
Prenatal and developing children: Endocrine disruptors like BPA are recognized for their outsized impacts on fetal and pediatric health, affecting everything from neurological development to hormonal balance.
General consumers: Anyone who handles receipts regularly—storing, sorting, or filing—faces repeated low-level exposure.

Are There Better Alternatives? Moving Towards Sustainable Receipts

The good news is that more sustainable and less toxic alternatives are available:

Digital receipts: Emailed or texted receipts dramatically reduce raw material use, require only a small energy and carbon footprint per send, and eliminate the use of bisphenol chemicals.

Each digital receipt generates an estimated 4 grams of CO₂—drastically lower than the impact of a paper receipt.
Conserving trees yields a multiplier effect; one mature tree can absorb 21,772 grams of CO₂ per year. By skipping paper receipts, we support carbon absorption and reduce emissions.

Phenol-free receipts: Newer, non-toxic coated papers are available, though are not yet widespread.
Opt-in receipt policies: Laws and campaigns are pushing retailers to only print a receipt when a customer explicitly asks for it, rather than by default.

Global campaigns such as “Skip the Slip” and new legislation (like California’s proposed bills) urge retailers and restaurants to prioritize digital or environmentally safer options. Major brands (e.g., Apple, Best Buy) are leading by example by phasing out toxic receipts and making e-receipts the default.

The Business Case: Savings, Fraud Prevention, and Consumer Trust

Shifting away from paper receipts offers tangible benefits for retailers:

Cost savings: Reduces spending on paper, ink, and printers.
Fraud reduction: Digital trails make fraudulent returns and theft harder.
Customer convenience: Easier to store, search, and share digital receipts.
Brand reputation: Shows environmental and social responsibility, enhancing trust.

What Can Individuals Do?

While structural change must come from businesses and policy, individuals can:

Refuse unnecessary receipts: Politely ask for no printed receipt when possible.
Request digital receipts: Opt for text or email confirmations whenever available.
Handle receipts carefully: To reduce bisphenol exposure, minimize handling and wash hands after touching receipts.
Support businesses: Patronize retailers that offer paperless, toxic-free, or opt-in receipt systems.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Why can’t I recycle my receipts with other paper?

A: Most receipts are made from thermal paper coated with BPA or BPS, both harmful chemicals that contaminate recycling streams and should not be mixed with standard paper recycling.

Q: Are digital receipts truly better for the environment?

A: Yes. Each digital receipt produces only about 4 grams of CO₂, compared to much higher emissions and resource use for a paper receipt, not to mention elimination of toxic waste and exposure risks.

Q: Are all receipts toxic?

A: The vast majority (over 90%) are, but some retailers offer phenol-free receipts. Always ask, or opt for digital to be safe.

Q: What is being done to reduce paper receipt use?

A: Campaigns like “Skip the Slip,” state and national legislation, and leading companies are pushing for digital default receipts and the use of safer materials. Consumer advocacy is accelerating this shift.

Q: How can I minimize my exposure to BPA/BPS from receipts?

A: Limit handling when possible, do not allow children to play with receipts, store receipts separately in a pouch or envelope, and wash hands after handling. Opt for digital or phenol-free receipts whenever you can.

Towards a Greener Checkout Future

Receipts represent just the tip of the paper waste iceberg, yet their environmental and health consequences make them a critical area for reform. As sustainable and digital solutions become more accessible, it is increasingly clear that both consumers and retailers must “skip the slip” for the benefit of both people and the planet. By demanding safer, greener alternatives, we can ensure our shopping habits leave a lighter mark on the Earth.

References

Author

medha deb

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

Read full bio of medha deb