- A receipt can be this long.
- It can also be this long!
- What’s written on such long receipts? Why do businesses waste them so much?
- The answer: A small, beautiful promotional tool.
Receipts serve as commercial documents for transactions between businesses and consumers. They typically include the following: sales organization name, contact information, cash register number, billing number, cashier number, sale date, product name, quantity, unit price, product amount, total amount, payment method, actual amount received, change amount, and receipt printing time. As a transaction voucher, receipts originally carried information related only to the purchase itself.
Why are receipts so long these days?
Because merchants often print a lot of text and other information unrelated to the purchase itself on receipts. This information includes, but is not limited to, product introductions, company culture, and after-sales service.
Take K22 Yogurt Strawberry, for example. Its receipt explains to customers why they have to queue, why they must finish their drinks within 15 minutes, and why there are only four varieties. These “digressions” run over 500 words and take nearly a minute to read.
According to K22 Yogurt Strawberry’s official receipt description, these words are intended to alleviate customers’ anxiety while waiting for their drinks, reduce their boredom, and establish a caring store image.
For example, this store’s receipts feature a promotion for a pet charity event. For every designated drink sold, a donation goes to the China Small Animal Protection Association. This not only encourages consumers to contribute to charitable causes, but also cultivates a store image as philanthropic, kind, and compassionate.
Why do these businesses choose to use receipts as a promotional tool?
For businesses, choosing the right media to disseminate information is crucial. Due to limited scale and resources, or the inherent limitations of the information itself, businesses sometimes cannot or do not need to promote certain information through large-scale advertising. Therefore, receipt paper, which is simple to produce yet effectively and targeted, has become a valuable promotional tool for businesses.
Perhaps not all customers will read the information on the receipt paper, and even if they do, they may not read it completely. However, for businesses, every glance can earn them a small profit.
Considering that overly long receipt paper is no longer a rarity and might not attract consumers’ attention, some businesses have simply turned receipt paper into distinctive business cards, printed with signature patterns. Some customers even collect them as cultural souvenirs, doubling the advertising effect.
- With so much paper, aren’t businesses worried about increased costs?
- The paper used for printing receipts is unusual.
The paper used to print receipts isn’t ordinary writing paper, but thermal paper.
Thermal paper is a type of information recording paper coated with a color-forming material that develops color when stimulated by a heat signal. It consists of a base paper, a base coat, a heat-sensitive coating, and a top coat (protective layer). When energy (heat) is applied to the thermal paper’s surface coating, the color-forming material undergoes a physical or chemical change, producing a color change and forming an image.
Printing information on thermal paper offers advantages such as fast printing speed, compact and portable printing equipment, low printing noise, no need for ribbon replacement, and high clarity suitable for barcode recognition.
Because thermal paper is used, printing receipt paper doesn’t require ink.
When printing on thermal paper, the printer’s recording head (called a thermal head) heats the paper in contact, causing the colorless dye molecules in the thermochromic layer in the heated area of the paper to react with the developer, ultimately revealing the printed text.
Furthermore, thermal printers consume relatively little power, typically between 10W and 50W. They also have fewer moving parts, making them easier to maintain, more sustainable, and more durable.
Overall, using extra-long receipt paper for promotional purposes is very cost-effective.
Is extra-long receipt paper wasteful?
While receipt paper is inexpensive, isn’t using so much paper excessive? Extra-long receipt paper does use more material than shorter receipt paper. Buying products with the FSC certification mark can help you avoid buying products sourced from endangered species or illegally logged trees. This ensures consumers that the products come from forests that meet the social, economic, and ecological needs of present and future generations, and also supports Greenpeace. Globally, over 100 million hectares of forest in approximately 79 countries are FSC certified. Zhongwen Paper is currently FSC certified.。
- Health Controversy Regarding Thermal Paper: “Carcinogenic”
In the past, many thermal papers contained bisphenol A (BPA) as a developer to enhance the sensitivity of the color reaction and ensure clear printing. However, BPA is an endocrine disruptor, and long-term exposure may have adverse effects on human health, such as reproductive and endocrine disruption. With increasing awareness of health and environmental protection, researchers are actively developing alternatives. Currently, many companies are producing BPA-free thermal paper. By utilizing novel colorants and formulations, these papers still achieve excellent thermal color performance and meet printing needs. These BPA-free thermal papers offer enhanced safety and are widely used in health-critical applications, such as food packaging, medical receipts, and supermarket receipts.
Zhongwen Paper is an attractive option for businesses seeking a reliable international supplier of thermal paper products. Headquartered in China, the company has established itself as a leading player in the thermal paper industry with over 10 years of experience.
- Why Choose Zhongwen Paper?
Extensive Product Range: We offer a wide variety of thermal paper products, including POS paper, carbonless paper rolls, ATM paper, medical paper, and custom printed paper rolls.
Manufacturing Capabilities: Our company boasts robust production capabilities, with an 8,000 square meter factory, over 80 workers, 30 advanced slitting machines, and 3 printing presses.
Customization: We offer custom printing solutions to meet specific business needs.
Competitive Pricing: We offer volume discounts, with prices sourced directly from thermal paper manufacturers.
Global Reach: Our distribution network spans Africa, the Middle East, Asia, North America, South America, and Europe.
Custom Case Studies:
While we offer competitive pricing and a wide range of products, you should carefully evaluate the potential challenges of international sourcing, including shipping times, import regulations, and communication across time zones.
As with any supplier, it’s recommended to start with a small order to evaluate product quality and service reliability before committing to a larger contract. If you would like to receive samples for comparison, please Contact Zhongwen Paper immediately.
The above articles and materials are all referenced from the website: https://www.mxpaperprint.com/
Post time: Aug-15-2025