Retailers are more and more switching to digital receipts and different alternate options to keep away from dangerous chemical substances generally utilized in receipt paper.
Bisphenol A, or BPA because it’s extra generally recognized, has already been phased out of child bottles in Australia for its potential impacts on fertility, heightened most cancers threat and different well being issues linked to endocrine-disrupting chemical substances.
But a budget chemical continues to be utilized in a spread of on a regular basis merchandise, together with within the coating on some thermal paper until receipts.
Major retailers have been transferring away from the chemical however there’s some issues about the usage of generally used alternate options, similar to Bisphenol S (BPS), which are additionally dangerous to human well being.
Both Coles and Woolworths confirmed their receipts had been BPA-free, however had been much less clear about their use of phenol alternate options.
A Woolworths spokesperson stated it was exploring rising phenol-free alternate options in addition to shifting extra prospects in direction of digital receipts by way of its rewards app.
The Australian Retailers Association additionally stated retailers had been switching to digital receipts to eradicate the usage of chemical substances and save paper.
“The transition to digital receipts has largely been driven by the consumer, preferring the ease of a digital receipt for filing and future reference, particularly for ease of returns,” ARA chief govt officer Paul Zahra stated.
A Planet Ark report launched a number of years in the past advisable employees uncovered to the receipts repeatedly to clean their palms after dealing with, keep away from hand sanitiser and put on gloves, if potential.
The report additionally inspired companies to cease promoting or utilizing merchandise with BPA or different phenol chemical substances.
