Project
Life Cycle Assessment
Cradle to Grave

Cradle to Grave

Receipt Paper Rolls
Image Courtesy of Mauricio Gutiérrez on Unsplash

This life cycle assessment critically examines the environmental footprint of thermal receipt paper from production to disposal1 2. This analysis partially uses the framework of ISO standards 14040 and 14044 to ensure a systematic and scientifically rigorous evaluation1 2.

Resource Extraction

Receipt paper is primarily made up of petroleum-based products3 4 and wood pulp5. These materials are selected for their ability to interact effectively under thermal stress to ensure the durability and clarity of the print5 3 4 Therefore, this stage involves the extraction of essential raw materials, including cellulose from wood pulp5 and specialized chemicals for the thermal coating6 3 4.

Manufacturing

The manufacturing process of thermal receipt paper comprises multiple phases: the conversion of wood into pulp, paper production, and the addition of the thermal coating5 6. During the primary phases of production, the chemicals are synthesized from petroleum-based precursors5 6. In the secondary phases, these chemicals are blended to produce the individual layers5 6. Finally, these layers are assembled to complete the receipt paper, which is then wound into rolls for distribution7 5.

Distribution

This involves the transportation of the finished thermal receipt paper to various distribution centres and retail outlets8 9. The environmental impact of transportation primarily comprises emissions released by transport vehicles and the related consumption of energy9.

Use

The usage phase involves issuing printed receipts to customers. While the direct environmental impact of this phase is minor9, research has suggested that handling receipt paper exposes both workers and consumers to hazardous concentrations of BPA and BPS10 11 8 12.

Disposal

The end-of-life for thermal receipt paper typically results in it being sent to landfills or undergoing incineration10 9. This disposal process has environmental consequences, including the release of chemicals, especially BPA and BPS10, into soil and groundwater at landfill sites, and emissions generated through incineration9.

  1. International Organization for Standardization. Environmental Management: Life Cycle Assessment, Principles & Framework [Internet]. International Organization for Standardization; 2006. Available from: ISO ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. International Organization for Standardization. Environmental Management: Life Cycle Assessment, Requirements & Guidelines [Internet]. International Organization for Standardization; 2006. Available from: ISO ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. Truitt JK. Thermal Paper Coating [Internet]. Dallas, TX; 3953659A, 1976. p. 4. Available from: Google Patents ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  4. Fukuchi T, Hamada K, Nagai T, Kudoh N, Sekine A. Thermal sensitive recording medium [Internet]. Tokyo, JP; 5811368A, 1998 [cited 2024 Feb 27]. Available from: Google Patents ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  5. Diamond AS. Handbook of Imaging Materials [Internet]. 2nd ed. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 2018 [cited 2024 Feb 23]. 695 p. Available from: Google Books ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  6. Muthyala R, editor. Chemistry and Applications of Leuco Dyes [Internet]. New York, NY: Kluwer Academic Publishers; 1997. 302 p. (Topics in Applied Chemistry). Available from: Google Books ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  7. 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 ↩︎

  8. Gogoi A, Neog B. The dark side of thermal printed paper. Curr Sci. 2016 Jan;110(1):11–2. ↩︎ ↩︎

  9. Astrup TF, Tonini D, Turconi R, Boldrin A. Life cycle assessment of thermal Waste-to-Energy technologies: Review and recommendations. Waste Manag. 2015 Mar 1;37:104–15. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  10. 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. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  11. Bousoumah R, Leso V, Iavicoli I, Huuskonen P, Viegas S, Porras SP, et al. Biomonitoring of occupational exposure to bisphenol A, bisphenol S and bisphenol F: A systematic review. Sci Total Environ. 2021 Aug 20;783:146905. ↩︎

  12. Biedermann S, Tschudin P, Grob K. Transfer of bisphenol A from thermal printer paper to the skin. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2010 Sep 1;398(1):571–6. ↩︎

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