Project
Introduction
Key Definitions

Key Definitions

What is Receipt Paper?

A point-of-sales (POS) receipt is a document acknowledging that a person has received money or property in payment following a sale or other transfer of goods or provision of a service1 2. It serves as proof of transaction and typically includes details such as the date of purchase, the items purchased, their prices, the total amount paid, and the seller’s information2. Unlike other receipts, such as invoices which are issued prior to payment as a request for payment, or e-receipts sent digitally to customers3, POS receipts are tangible proof provided immediately after a purchase1.

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In this project, the term Receipt Paper will be consistently used to denote the specific type of thermally activated paper utilized for POS-prompted receipts.

Receipt paper is the specialized paper used for printing receipts, with thermal paper being the most commonly used type4 5. This technology is also employed in thermal barcode labels, shipping labels, and other applications requiring quick and durable printing solutions4 5.

Comparison to Traditional Paper

Receipt paper is the specialized paper used for printing receipts, with thermal paper being the most commonly used type4 5. Designed to be cost-effective for businesses requiring swift, ink-free printing, receipt paper is available in rolls, making it easily adaptable to the high-volume demands of retail and service industry transactions5. However, its chemical coating poses environmental recycling challenges, contrasting with the more straightforward, eco-friendly recycling of regular paper3 6—a subject that will be further addressed later in this project.

  1. Canada Revenue Agency. Business Records [Internet]. Income Tax. 2023 [cited 2024 Feb 19]. Available from: [Canada Revenue Agency()]https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/businesses/topics/sole-proprietorships-partnerships/business-records.html) ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Moneris. Receipt Requirements [Internet]. Moneris Developers. 2024 [cited 2024 Feb 19]. Available from: Moneris ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. Moustafa K, García PJ, El Khoury F, Pierre S. From Seller Screens to Buyer Screens: Toward a Smart Digital Receipt Solution for Sustainability and Greenhouse Gas Mitigation by Million Tons. Digit Soc. 2023 Nov 30;2(3):53. ↩︎ ↩︎

  4. Koester V. How Does Thermal Paper Work? [Internet]. ChemistryViews. 2019 [cited 2024 Feb 27]. Available from: ChemistryViews ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  5. Ouyang F. Complete Guide on Thermal Paper: Composition, Advantages, Uses, and More [Internet]. Panda Paper Roll. 2023 [cited 2024 Feb 16]. Available from: Panda Paper Roll ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  6. Pivnenko K, Pedersen GA, Eriksson E, Astrup TF. Bisphenol A and its structural analogues in household waste paper. Waste Manag. 2015 Oct 1;44:39–47. ↩︎

The Paper Trail BeginsBackground