Few paper products are as ubiquitous as printed receipts and labels made from thermal POS paper. And in North America, those slick bits of paper used to print your grocery receipt, restaurant bill, shipping label, coffee order, ATM transaction and other data from your day-to-day life are likely made by Domtar.
Domtar, through its Domtar POS business, is a leader in the thermal POS paper industry. Today, we are North America’s only integrated supplier of phenol- and Pergafast-free POS paper, and the only domestic supplier of base paper for a wide range of thermal applications, including labels. Our investments over the past five years and our long history of advocacy — both for our industry and for consumers’ right to choose printed receipts and statements — mean we are well positioned to lead this market segment now and into the future.
“As the only domestic producer of thermal POS paper, we are uniquely committed to the North American paper industry, offering the most reliable supply chain,” says Tina Howard, vice president of sales, converting. “We strive to provide our customers and consumers with products that go further than simply meeting their needs to also take into consideration our environment and human health.”
From Forest to Point of Sale
Based on technology available since the 1960s, thermal printing has advanced by leaps and bounds. Printers are smaller and smarter, putting the technology into the hands of more people and applications. And modern thermal POS paper, including Domtar’s new Clarion™ POS paper, is safer than ever, sustainably produced and certified recyclable, giving customers peace of mind.
But how is it made?
Our thermal POS paper begins its product lifecycle like any other Domtar paper product. We sustainably harvest trees from responsibly managed forests and process the pulp into paper.
- Thermal base paper is made at our Marlboro Mill to our customers’ specifications.
- After manufacturing, large rolls of our thermal base paper are sent to our facility in West Carrollton, Ohio, which Domtar acquired in 2020. There, it’s coated with a special heat-activated coating and cut down to smaller, more manageable rolls.
- Next, they are sent to one of several converting facilities, including some acquired by Domtar in 2024. These converting facilities trim down the rolls of thermal paper into even smaller rolls that can be used for a wide range of applications, including POS receipts and labels.
- Some products that require adhesive are sent on to other converters for the final step in the manufacturing process.
- Once finished, our thermal POS paper products are sold to distributors and thermal printer manufacturers, who make them available to end users.
- The paper is used in special printers that use heat to activate the thermal coating and create the image or text.
“As an integrated supplier of thermal POS paper, we can source wood chips in South Carolina and follow that fiber all the way to a finished roll of receipt paper that will end up in someone’s point-of-sale terminal,” says Mike Rapier, executive vice president of Domtar’s point-of-sale business and president of the Paper Receipts Converting Association (PRCA). “That’s a first in the United States, and it gives us a unique perspective on how to address the needs of the industry. It’s a great story for Domtar to tell.”
Domtar’s domestic supply chain ensures a reliable and sustainable source of thermal paper for converters and end users — a plus in today’s global economy.
“There’s uncertainty around the issue of tariffs, and then you have logistical concerns with global trade,” Rapier explains. “Using a domestic supplier takes some of that uncertainty off the table and reduces operational risk for our customers and their customers.”
And, adds Howard, “We work closely with thermal printing equipment manufacturers to ensure our products meet their specifications, and we collaborate with our converters to create a product that helps them deliver exactly what their customers demand.”
A Voice for Thermal POS Paper
Domtar’s commitment to the thermal POS paper industry goes beyond R&D and manufacturing. We’ve played — and will continue to play — an important role in advocating for consumers’ rights to choose printed statements and receipts.
A 2023 survey by the Paper Receipts Converting Association found that 85 percent of American consumers want the option to choose which type of receipt (paper or digital) they receive. The same study showed that 73 percent opt for paper over digital. A separate Domtar study had similar results.
“Consumers continue to tell us that they don’t want legislation to take away their choices when making transactions,” says Rapier. “And actually, the youngest group Domtar surveyed (ages 18-25) say they prefer paper receipts over technology, citing privacy concerns. That means demand isn’t going away anytime soon.”
Despite efforts in some states, like California and Washington, to do away with paper receipts, consumer demand and advocacy from manufacturers and industry organizations, including PRCA and AF&PA, have made it clear that printed receipts still matter. They make budgeting easier, provide proof of purchase for retail returns and warranty claims, help protect privacy, are widely available and are easily recyclable in compliance with local recycling guidelines.
Similarly, labels printed on thermal paper are an ideal solution for high-volume, variable data printing for applications such as shipping labels, name and number tags, inventory management, foodservice orders, event ticketing, retail barcodes and parking citations. These thermal paper use cases point to a widespread, virtually unlimited need for one-off, on-demand printed labels.
Our work with industry organizations, as well as state and national governments, has helped dispel some common myths about the safety, sustainability and recyclability of thermal POS paper, both at the consumer and legislative level. We’ve been strong advocates for enforcing existing laws, industry regulations and import duties designed to ensure the safety and quality of thermal papers that enter North America from overseas manufacturers. And we have invested in research and development to produce Clarion™ POS, the industry’s first phenol- and Pergafast-free thermal POS paper and a worry-free choice for consumers.
“We’ve created the next generation of thermal POS paper products, which is symbolic of the leadership role Domtar has in the industry,” says Rapier. “But not only that, our advocacy and investment are the right things to do, not just for Domtar but also for the industry and for consumers.”
