The use of Bisphenol A has now been restricted or banned in certain kinds of products including Thermal Paper Rolls due to its toxicity to the human body.
Credit card receipts, cash register slips, tickets and other paper products are often made from thermal paper coated with a chemical substance that reacts with a dye precursor to form a colour when exposed to heat. Bisphenol A (BPA) is one such chemical substance commonly used for this is purpose. In January 2020, the European Commission’s restricted use of BPA in thermal paper came into effect and it can no longer be used in the manufacture of Thermal Paper Rolls.
In December 2016, the European Commission published a new regulation restricting the use of Bisphenol A (BPA) in thermal paper in the European Union. After 2nd January 2020, thermal paper which contains BPA in a concentration equal to or more than 0.02% by weight was banned for use within the EU.
Scientific studies carried out by experts report that BPA has several possible significant health implications for humans. These include disrupting properties which affect a person’s reproductive capabilities, that it can cause respiratory irritation and serious eye damage and may cause an allergic skin reaction. Bisphenol A has also been identified as an endocrine disruptor for human health and toxic to aquatic life.
Meetings have been held in Europe since March 2019 to look at financial and sustainable alternates to BPA in thermal paper. The initial meeting was with the Belgian health and economic public authorities, with ECHA’s support who hosted a workshop on alternatives for BPA in thermal paper. The workshop focused on the alternatives available, their benefits and financial implications.
What we are doing at BPU(UK) regarding Bisphenol A (BPA) in Thermal Paper
At BPC(UK) we are constantly engaging with the paper industry and looking at what environmentally friendly alternatives are available on the market
There are several alternative products currently available in the marketplace and we now offer our customers BPA Free or Phenol Free Printed Paper Rolls as a standard.
Some BPA free receipt paper alternatives that are available today use a urea-based compound and vitamin C both of which are BPA and BPS free.
The market is quickly evolving so please contact us regarding the latest developments of Thermal Paper Roll manufacturing and what products we currently manufacture and distribute to the trade.
