Why should you not hold receipts?

Beyond the practical inconvenience of paper receipts, there is a genuine health reason to avoid handling them unnecessarily: thermal paper is coated with bisphenol A (BPA) or its substitute bisphenol S (BPS), both of which are endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

The BPA problem

BPA and BPS are present in the thermal coating of most printed receipts at concentrations far higher than in food packaging. Studies have found that handling thermal paper receipts significantly increases BPA levels in the bloodstream, with effects amplified if you have hand sanitiser or lotion on your skin, as these act as solvents that accelerate absorption.

Cashiers who handle receipts all day have been found to have substantially elevated BPA levels. Occasional exposure is unlikely to be significant, but it is a reason to avoid unnecessary handling.

Environmental reasons

Thermal paper cannot be recycled in most areas because the chemical coating contaminates the recycling stream. Billions of receipts go to landfill every year. Digital receipts eliminate this entirely.

Practical reasons

Paper receipts also fade, get lost, disintegrate in pockets, and are essentially useless for record-keeping without active effort to file and preserve them.

What to do instead

• Ask for a digital receipt where offered
• Photograph immediately with your phone and discard
• Use a receipt management app to capture and organise automatically
• Wash hands after handling multiple receipts

Going digital is better for your health, for the environment, and for your records.