At a glance, receipts appear to be just like any other paper product, so why do we often hear that they can’t be recycled? That guidance made sense when most point‑of‑sale receipts were made from thermal paper containing BPA or BPS. These chemicals help create printed images but can contaminate recycled pulp, which is why many recycling programs advise throwing receipts in the trash. Over time, that caution turned into a misconception that all receipts must be discarded.
Clarion™ Recycles the Narrative Around Receipts
Clarion™, is a new phenol-free thermal paper from Domtar and the first POS receipt paper in North America certified as recyclable according to WMU standards. It is designed to move through standard recycling streams and across all paper grades without the contamination risks associated with traditional thermal paper.
What does that mean in practice?
With Clarion™ thermal paper, receipts no longer have to be separated or discarded. They can be recycled alongside everyday paper products making sustainable behavior simpler across the board.
- For consumers: It removes confusion and makes recycling intuitive again
- For businesses: It aligns everyday operations with environmental goals
- For recycling systems: It reduces contamination and improves material recovery
Request more information on our phenol-free receipt paper below.
When in doubt, always check with your local recycler to see what your area accepts. Recycling programs vary from place to place, and your community’s recycling website is the best place for information regarding your specific program.
For more information, download the Clarion™ brochure or provide your information in the form above.
