How does thermal paper work? Everything you need to know

Thermal paper is often used in mini-printers (e.g. popular printers for printing labels or stickers) and thermal devices to print receipts. No wonder it is a material eagerly used in various industries, from retail to catering and even for personal use. It is worth considering what it is made of and how thermal paper works. The paper reacts to temperature changes (heat), meaning the printing process does not require ink or toner. Is thermal printer paper a good solution? When is it worth looking for alternatives? Let’s get down to business! 

Thermal paper. How does it work?

Thermal paper consists of several layers. The base layer is a paper backing on which a particular chemical layer is applied. This substance contains substances that react to heat – usually dyes and various activators. When the paper is subjected to heat by the printer head, a chemical reaction occurs that activates the colour of the dye, usually black. This is how an image or text on paper is created. Thermal printers are unsuitable for printing complex projects but can handle labels or receipts without problems.

Thermal paper makes the printing process fast, effective, and relatively inexpensive (we only have the cost of paper here; you don’t have to worry about ink). Due to this simplicity of operation, economy, and printing speed, thermal printer paper is eagerly used for printing receipts, tickets, labels, and other documents that require immediate printing and do not have a complicated design.

Thermal paper and the environment

From an environmental point of view, the big problem is that the chemical layer of thermal paper can contain bisphenol A (BPA) or bisphenol S (BPS). These chemicals are harmful to health and the environment in high concentrations. BPA and BPS are so-called endocrine active compounds, meaning they can affect the endocrine systems of humans and animals. However, for several years, since January 2, 2020, thermal paper containing BPA in a concentration equal to or higher than 0.02% has been prohibited due to a regulation of the European Commission. So, the paper currently on the market does not have high concentrations of BPA. 

It is also worth remembering that thermal paper is not recyclable in the traditional way. The substances it contains can contaminate other paper materials, making recycling difficult. Therefore, remember to correctly dispose of the used thermal paper, which involves additional costs and procedures.

E-receipt+ as an ecological alternative

As you can see, from an environmental point of view and in the context of ESG, it is worth looking for solutions other than traditional thermal printer paper. Even if you don’t completely replace thermal paper, reducing its consumption in favour of technologies such as E-receipt+ may be a good solution.

And what is E-PARAGON+? It is an electronic receipt that replaces the traditional paper printout. This is a great convenience for customers, but also a way created with the environment and the ESG directive in mind. Electronic receipts reduce the need for thermal paper, reducing waste and the emission of harmful chemicals. This solution has one more advantage for the retail industry – efficiently storing e-receipts on devices, simplifying documentation management and allowing quick access to sales history.

Be sure to check our article on fiscal cash register or fiscal printer.