Bisphenol A, or BPA as it's more commonly known, has already been phased out of baby bottles in Australia for its potential impacts on fertility, heightened cancer risk and other health concerns linked to endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
But the cheap chemical is still used in a range of everyday products, including in the coating on some thermal paper till receipts.
Major retailers have been moving away from the chemical but there's some concerns about the use of commonly used alternatives, such as Bisphenol S (BPS), that are also harmful to human health.
Both Coles and Woolworths confirmed their receipts were BPA-free, but were less clear about their use of phenol alternatives.
A Woolworths spokesperson said it was exploring emerging phenol-free alternatives as well as shifting more customers towards digital receipts via its rewards app.
The Australian Retailers Association also said retailers were switching to digital receipts to eliminate the use of chemicals and save paper.
"The transition to digital receipts has largely been driven by the consumer, preferring the ease of a digital receipt for filing and future reference, particularly for ease of returns," ARA chief executive officer Paul Zahra said.
A Planet Ark report released a few years ago recommended workers exposed to the receipts regularly to wash their hands after handling, avoid hand sanitiser and wear gloves, if possible.
The report also encouraged businesses to stop selling or using products with BPA or other phenol chemicals.
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