Just in case you missed all the recent hubbub about BPA and receipts here is a little recap.
Last summer the Environmental Working Group found very high levels of bisphenol-A (BPA) in paper receipts from supermarkets, automated teller machines, gas stations and chain stores. In some cases, the total amount of BPA on the receipt was 1,000 times the amount found in the lining of a can of food (another controversial spot for big levels of BPA).
Why BPA on receipts is an issue
BPA from the receipts can rub off onto your hands, skin and mouth and can be absorbed into the body. BPA exposure has been linked to many health problems, including cancer, obesity, diabetes, and early puberty.
How to limit your exposure to BPA on receipts
Ever since this study was released I have been very diligent when handling receipts. Here are a few guidelines:
- Don’t take receipts if you don’t need them. I only take receipts I need for tax purposes or possible returns. At the checkout let the cashier know that you don’t need the receipt.
- Wash your hands after handling any receipts. Be aware of what you are touching-your mouth, the steering wheel etc….
- If your job requires that you handle receipts wear gloves.
Kudos to Nordstrom
I am not a shopping mall fan. They give me a headache. I go only when it is completely necessary and I try to get in and out as quickly as possible. Today was one of those days; I needed to make a quick trip to the mall.
One of my stops was Nordstrom. Known for their excellent customer service and high end fashion, they didn’t let me down. I found what I needed (my kids are out growing everything so I found a few things for them and a few for me) and went to the checkout. My purchases were placed in my reusable bag . I was just about to let the cashier know that I didn’t need the receipt when she asked me for my email address. Nordstrom is transitioning to emailing receipts.
Could it be? No more wasting endless amounts of paper on receipts? No more touching BPA laden receipts?
It takes 15 trees, 19,000 gallons of water, and 390 gallons of oil to make a ton of paper. Sometimes a store will print two receipts-one with an itemization of my purchases and the other with the bill total. What a complete waste of paper.
Once I left the store I checked my email and there it was…..an emailed receipt from Nordstrom. As a side note-I have a separate email account for retailers to control spam.
Big round of applause to Nordstrom and any other retailers that have transitioned to emailing receipts. What a simple solution to the BPA on receipt issue. It’s time for everyone to switch and have paper receipts be the exception, not the rule.
Would you be willing to have your receipts emailed? Do you know of any retailers that are already emailing receipts?
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Resources:
CBSNews.org
BPA: Paper Receipts Found to Contain Disputed Chemical
[Top photo used under Creative Commons from Brad Montgomery/Flickr]
[Nordstrom photo used under Creative Commons from Hans van de Bruggen/Flickr]
Love the info in this post. I also love stores that ask me if I want a receipt (Starbucks and Willy Stree Coop). At our house parties we always email receipts. Thanks again for great information.
Great post, Lori! The Apple Store also e-mails receipts.
For the receipts I must have (like the one saved for tax purposes), I wish they were made of 100% recycled paper, with no BPA coating, no extra processing, and no bleaching. This way, no trees would be cut, and we would be exposed to fewer toxins.
Thanks Stefanie! It is nice to know that retailers are giving the customer the option to take a receipt. Thanks to your company for emailing receipts-your business is all about eco friendly products ( and beautiful eco friendly bags!).
Thanks Andrea. Good to know that Apple is emailing receipts. It would be nice if all receipts were made of eco friendly paper. It is hard to believe that BPA continues to be a major issue with receipts. Hopefully more retailers will see the upside to emailing receipts.
What a great change! I take receipts because if I refuse one, the cashier will toss it. If I take it home, it will get recycled. Trivial, but hey… I have heard that BPA from receipts finds its way into recycled toilet paper, though, so maybe it would be better to just throw them away. Anyway, this is a very welcome alternative. I look forward to seeing more stores adopt it.
Great point Jennifer. I am sure they just dump the rejected receipts into the trash. Yes, the BPA can leach all over other recyclables. Emailing receipts and not printing a paper receipt will take care of all these issues. Hopefully more retailers will jump on board!
Thank you for sharing this article! I had no idea that BPA was on receipts! I will definitely be limiting my exposure from now on. And what a great idea to have receipts e-mailed. I can see this trend getting more popular in the future!
Hi Michelle- You are welcome! It would be nice if more retailers were emailing their receipts. Hopefully over time this will become the trend.
I LOVE the idea of emailing receipts. Not only does it sound more healthy, considering the BPA, it would reduce the “paper mess” in my house immensely. I have been saying for years that I would love retailers to do this – then I would only print it if I had to make a return. I hope more stores catch on to this!
We have that same paper mess Becky. We’ve been trying to scan our receipts into a folder and then recycling the receipts-but it’s a huge job that is impossible to keep up with. I asked Nordstrom about returns and they said you don’t even need to bring in a receipt-they can look it all up by scanning the item. Pretty cool!
Email me a receipt please! That way I know I have it and if I need to find it I can. Alternatively, it just creates a big mess in my purse, resulting in me never being able to answer my phone or find my keys.
Thanks for this Lori. Nice to know that stores are starting to do this. Sears has the email option, but unfortunately you still get the paper copy as well- you get the option of email and paper, or just paper. This is part of their computer system so I don’t think the cashier can change it. Maybe they will add a 3rd option. I heard that Verizon doesn’t give paper receipts either.
The MassRecycle yahoo group was just talking about BPA in receipts ending up in recycled paper. I had never thought about that before. Now I’m not sure if I am doing good by recycling my receipts????
Haha Sherry-I am the same. My phone rings or I have to run out quickly and I can never find anything. Getting rid of all those receipts would be a big help!
At least Sears seems to be headed down the right path-although they are duplicating their efforts right now! Good to know about Verizon. I think a blog post might be coming about recycling things with BPA……stay tuned!
I’ve often wondered why we need two receipts when making purchases with a card. Our scientists are smart enough to put robots on Mars – why can’t cash registers print both the itemized list and credit card receipt onto the same piece of paper?
You got me! Seems absolutely crazy to have two receipts for one purchase. What a waste.
Wow. What a concept. I’m going to have to get my mind around emailed receipts. Thanks for the great information, Lori.
You’re welcome Aviva. I try to decline receipts as much as possible-unless I need them for tax reasons.
Hi! I know this is an older post, but wanted to share a campaign I work on to tackle the environmental and health issues of paper receipts (still as prevalent as ever, with many companies abandoning BPA paper for “non-BPA” options…but these options are coated in BPS, a similar substance that can have similar health effects): http://www.greenamerica.org/skip-the-slip – – we have actions folks can take and current information on the impacts of receipts.
Thank you for raising awareness about this! Glad to have discovered your blog!