Receipts

The common question “would you like your receipt?” has become much more complicated in these past years. In the past, whether the answer was yes or no, the cashier would print out the receipt and either give it to the customer or throw it away. Now, as the world has become more aware of the negative effects of printed paper receipts on the planet and our health—they contain bisphenol-A (BPA), a known endocrine disrupter¹ —there has been a transition into digital receipts. Instead of giving every costumer a slip of thermal paper, each ton of which produced emits as much carbon dioxide (CO₂) as a car emits in a year², many retailers have opted to provide receipts to customers via email. Although this guide is more geared toward business owners looking to switch from paper to digital receipts, consumers can have a say as well by petitioning and making their voices heard.

BENEFITS FOR HEALTH: BPA is an endocrine disrupter and may cause neurological problems, cause obesity, and other issues due to harmful effects on reproductive and developmental systems. BPA has been found in the dyes used in thermal paper and because BPA mimics hormones found naturally in the body, the chemical easily leaches into the human body through our skin. This is highly concerning given that we handle receipts with our hands, so the chemical not only leaches into our bodies through our skin, but also directly into our mouths and through our digestive systems if we do not wash our hands after handling a receipt before eating. Moreover, 30% of thermal paper is recycled and this causes BPA to be found in products we use every day that come into contact with our skin such as toilet paper, napkins, and food packaging.³

BENEFITS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: As previously stated, the CO₂ emitted in the production of one ton of receipt paper is equivalent to the annual emissions of a car. Moreover, the 9.6 million trees estimated to be cut per year for receipts in the United States alone⁴ can be saved by making the switch to digital. Thermal paper is also not recyclable in all municipalities, but is often mistakenly recycled, which then causes further problems.⁵ Regardless, it is generally recommended that you throw your receipts in the trash instead of recycling them in order to prevent BPA from contaminating other products.⁶

BENEFITS FOR BUSINESSES: Not only will the elimination of paper receipts help the health of employees by no longer exposing them to BPA for hours a day, but it can also help the wellbeing of the business. Since most digital receipts are email based, the company will also obtain a new vehicle to communicate with costumers. This information can be used to send coupons and other promotions to encourage customers to continue using the company’s services and buying its goods. Even without that, the receipt itself does not have to be a boring record. Many companies have learned to code their own advertisements into the emailed receipt. Digital records are also easier to keep organized than paper records for most businesses. The National Retail Federation claimed that in 2011, return fraud cost retailers $14.37 billion.⁸ Digital records will eliminate or lower such costs because the records are more accessible and reliable.

Cost: High (to replace technology); Low (to maintain)

Time and Effort: Intermediate

Steps for Businesses to Switch from Paper to Digital Receipts

1. Choose the right program for your company. There are many digital receipt providers, such as AllEtronics, Epsilon, Square, to name a few. Remember that each program has its pros and cons, although most have the same concept. Let’s go through the options listed above to see what they offer:
   
   1. AllEtronics, a company based in Fullerton, CA, produced a program that was released in 2008. Although many digital receipt programs send receipts in an email form, AllEtronics sees this as both inconvenient and unsafe because these email addresses could be sent to third parties who will spam and advertise against the consumer’s wishes. The receipt will be sent to their own server where the customer can enter a code to access their file. Although this may prevent spam mail, having to go to a different server to see financial records may be viewed as a hassle. The flip side is that as more businesses begin using this service, consumers will be able to have all of their receipts located in one place where they can be easily and readily reviewed and even downloaded or printed out if necessary.⁹
      
   2. Epsilon’s digital receipt program released in 2011 is an email based program. Email programs have been criticized for not being safe for the security of the consumers. Epsilon is marketing this as a safe email based program with fraud protection.¹⁰ At this time there is very minimal information about how the program is being put to use and working, but with time there should be more readily available information about Epsilon’s digital receipt program.
      
   3. Square is a device compatible with Apple products and even Androids. In order to use Square, a business just needs to sign up for the program and insert a Square Card Reader into an iPad, iPhone, or Android to turn the device into a register. This program is an email based program and requires a customer’s email address, but they can also opt out of receiving any record at all.¹¹ Although the technology allows for great convenience for both consumer and brand, the Square has been analyzed and proven to have the possibility of fraudulent uses.¹² This is a popular choice for small, independent businesses.
      
      
2. Take advantage of the blank canvas. After choosing the program, companies can benefit from adding additional coding to the receipt. Some suggestions include placing advertisements for related items, or upcoming promotions that the costumer would most likely be interested in depending on the items he/she purchased.
   
3. Brand it. Make the receipt presentable and aesthetically pleasing. Remind the customer of the good experience they had at your establishment. Include links to the company website or related sites to encourage further business with you.
   
4. Make sure it is clear that it is a transactional email, not an advertisement. More people are likely to open the email. It is a transaction primarily, and advertisement secondarily.
   
5. Test it out. Do not launch something new without giving it a test trial. It is better to hold off on the release of new technology than to release a malfunctioning program and then have to put it on recall.

Steps for Consumers to Switch from Paper to Digital Receipts

1. Speak up. Although consumers do not have actual control over the actions of businesses and corporations, having one’s voice heard is the greatest way to start a motion. I would not suggest you use this for retail stores, but for businesses that directly affect you, like your work or your school. My university prints out receipts and gives it to every person after every purchase due to a tax law requiring college campuses to give receipts to customers to ensure they know they are not being taxed. Talk to the representative of the tax board at your university and the head of the dining/retail department at the university to change this policy if it is in place.
   
2. Show them the technology. The technology is available to use but many choose not to use it. Make it known that businesses like Nordstrom’s, Urban Outfitters, Gap Inc., Macy’s, Apple, Wells Fargo, and many other large businesses have already made the switch and that it is not only possible, but beneficial. Utilize the steps and tips for businesses above as a reference.
   
3. If they do not switch, you make the switch. Reap the benefits of digital receipts by downloading apps that allow you to keep your records digital. It will minimize your contact with the thermal paper and also eliminate the clutter that receipts tend to make. The App store, and Google Play both offer multiple consumer products that give you the convenience of digital records.

Overall, the switch from paper to digital is a big one of the technology change for the company that it entails. But in the end, it is a beneficial change for a business, the environment, and the consumer. Look at Wells Fargo Bank which introduced a digital receipt option at its ATMs and just had its 100^th E-receipt sent to a customer in a very successful program launched two years ago. In two years alone, Wells Fargo has saved over 20,000 rolls of receipt paper—a stretch of paper 8 miles long!¹⁴ This is hopefully just the beginning!