Bisphenols on our receipts

Bisphenols are industrial chemicals used in receipts and tickets
There is increasing evidence that bisphenols are harming the environment and could be impacting human health by affecting our hormones
The application of bisphenol A (BPA) on receipts was banned by the EU in January 2020, but some retailers are switching to other, similar bisphenols like BPS, which are also of concern
Some retailers have already phased out all bisphenols from their receipts, with some ditching paper entirely by introducing digital options

What are bisphenols?

Bisphenols are a group of synthetic chemicals used to make some plastics, and thermal paper for tickets and receipts. Bisphenol A (BPA) is the most studied bisphenol and one of the highest produced chemicals, manufactured at a rate of around 2.7 million tonnes each year. Evidence suggest that BPA disrupts endocrine (hormonal) systems in both humans and animal species [1] and is found in the blood and urine of almost every person who has been tested [2].

Whilst some bisphenols have not been studied as closely as BPA, all bisphenols have a similar chemical structure and composition, and therefore have similar effects on humans and animals.

One way that these chemicals enter our bodies is through our skin when touching receipts and tickets. Bisphenols can also be released into the environment through landfill leachate, paper mill effluent and the breakdown of products that contain these chemicals, such as receipts.

What can businesses do?

Offer a no receipt option

As many receipts and tickets are immediately thrown away, some retailers ask customers if they would like a receipt rather than automatically printing one. Check to see if your point of sale has had automatic printing switched off.

‘Go digital’

Many retailers are introducing digital receipting which is both effective and will reduce long-term environmental costs of receipt rolls of paper and printing.

Choose a safer alternative

Retailers have an important role in reducing the exposure levels of bisphenols to their staff, customers and wider environment. Bisphenol free coatings for thermal paper tickets and receipts are readily available.

What’s the problem?

It is clear from the academic, scientific research that bisphenols can have a negative impact on human and environmental health and need to be monitored, regulated and banned where the use is unnecessary and harmful. Balabanič et al. (2017) [3] go as far as claiming that “endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) are one of the most critical class of contaminants since they can cause adverse effects in the living organisms due to their interference with the endocrine system.” As a result, many academics and NGOs, Fidra included, would like to see greater action in regard to the regulation and use of bisphenols as a group, not just on one bisphenol chemical, such as BPA, alone.

Health impacts

Research like that completed by Balabanič et al. (2017) [4] on the impacts of endocrine (hormone) disruptors on biological processes, highlight the damage that can be caused to human fertility, formation of genitals and hormone related cancers. Valentino et al. (2015) [5] express that exposure to BPA via tin cans, plastic packaging and till receipts and tickets “must be reduced” due to the results that they found on human health, especially in regard to foetal and neonatal exposure.

Environmental impacts

CHEM Trust’s report, ‘From BPA to BPZ: a toxic soup?‘ explains that BPA is ubiquitous throughout our natural environment, having a wide variety of different impacts on wildlife. This includes disruption to the development of Zebrafish larvae and amphibians as well as altering the sex and reproductive systems of various fish species [6].

In addition, a recent study from Guo et al. (2017) shows that BPA has been found to build up in green algae. This is known as ‘bioaccumulation’ as the chemical is absorbed by an organism quicker than it can be processes. This study also demonstrated that bisphenol was transferred from contaminated alga to plankton that eat it, therefore suggesting that it is possible for bisphenols to build up in the food chain [7]; which we are of course a part of.

What can you do?

Say ‘No, thank you!’

If you don’t need a receipt please say so! Retailers will soon get the message…

Keep your receipts safe

If you need a receipt for expenses or proof of purchase, that is OK! Keep your tickets and receipts in an envelope to limit the contact with skin.

Bin them

We know this might not be what you expect from an environmental charity, but we do not recommend receipts are recycled. This will prevent bisphenols being introduced into our recycled paper products such as loo roll or printing paper.

What’s the solution?

Fidra have been working with the UK’s major retailers to find out what’s on their receipts, encouraging them to limit the environmental impact of their receipts, through turning off automatic receipts, going digital and switching to bisphenol free paper. We want to see all retailers choosing bisphenol free options, rather than substituting BPA for another bisphenol, like BPS.

This is one way Fidra believes we can make a difference. Another way is to focus on the legislative process, working with partner organisations to bring our concerns to both the Scottish and UK governments, as well as the EU.

Dr Anna Watson, Head of Advocacy at CHEM Trust said:

“BPA is well known to have endocrine disrupting properties, and it is worrying that a number of the other bisphenols are also being found to have similar hazardous properties. We need the regulators to phase out groups of chemicals of concern, such as the bisphenols, rather than slowly restricting one chemical at a time, which allows companies to move from one harmful chemical to another. We fully support Fidra’s campaign calling on the industry to end the use of bisphenols in till receipts to protect people and the environment from these hazardous chemicals.”

Have a look at our table to find out what your supermarket is doing:

As UK supermarket Co-op demonstrates, by using digital receipts, bisphenol free paper and no receipting options is an important part of being a responsible business. Iain Ferguson, Environment Manager Co-op, said: “We believe how we do business really matters, from our work to cut carbon, source sustainably and eradicate hard to recycle plastic, through to bisphenol and phenol-free till receipts – we are committed to ensuring we have a healthy, sustainable natural environment to pass on to future generations.”

Regulating bisphenols

The growing concerns about the effects of bisphenols has led to increased regulation of some bisphenols, as well as bans on certain applications of these chemcials. This is most significant for BPA which has been banned in various products in countries such as Canada, France and China. The EU have also banned BPA in baby products and till receipts, with this latter ban recently being introduced in January 2020 [8].

Currently, our regulatory system addresses every chemical individually. So for example, BPA will be researched and regulated separately to BPS, rather than bisphenols being examined and regulated as a group.
This process allows companies to easily switch from one chemical to another when one is banned. This is called ‘regrettable substitution‘ and we have seen this happen as companies decide to replace BPA for BPS on our receipts given the recent ban. BPS and flourine-9- bisphenol (BHPF) have been shown to have similar properties to BPA, which may lead to bans on BPS in the future, but not just yet. By phasing out all bisphenols, businesses and organisations will be able to stay ahead of legislation and avoid cases of regrettable substitution.

At Fidra, we want to see group-based legislation on chemicals so that the whole group, in this case bisphenols, is banned rather than only certain types. Evidence demonstrates that other bisphenols, such as BPS and BPF, which are often used as an alternative where BPA is banned, have very similar properties and impacts to BPA.