Recently, there has been an increase in contradictory information being spread about the recyclability of Blue4est® checkout receipts. Whereas the German Environment Agency states it is fully recyclable, according to the association INGEDE (International Research Community for De-Inking Technology) blue checkout receipts can cause problems when disposed of as wastepaper, even in small quantities. This statement is inaccurate, and is causing confusion among consumers.
The first sustainable and recyclable thermal paper Blue4est® – also known as the blue receipt or eco-receipt – was launched onto the market in 2015. Now, a host of customers across Europe are using these sustainable checkout receipts. The innovative technology has since been refined, with the introduction of Blue4est® Pro paper for labels in 2022. Blue4est® is produced entirely without chemical developers, which is why the German Environment Agency recommends disposing of it as wastepaper. This allows the paper to be recycled and reused as a new raw material.
German Environment Agency: Blue4est® checkout receipts can simply be disposed of as wastepaper
Some time ago, the German Environment Agency officially confirmed – including via an announcement on its website – that blue checkout receipts can be disposed of as wastepaper. Sebastian Früh, Director Thermal Paper Division at Koehler Paper, comments: “The circular economy can only become a reality if we reuse as many raw materials as we can. When disposed of as wastepaper, blue checkout receipts actively contribute to achieving that circular economy.” The high-quality fibers in Blue4est® checkout rolls are ideal for further use in recycled packaging paper, for example.
Consumers left confused by contradictory statements on disposal of blue checkout receipts
Recently, there has been an increase in contradictory information being spread about the recyclability of Blue4est® checkout receipts. Whereas the German Environment Agency states it is fully recyclable, according to the association INGEDE (International Research Community for De-Inking Technology) blue checkout receipts can cause problems when disposed of as wastepaper, even in small quantities. This statement is inaccurate, and is causing confusion among consumers.
It is true that the black ink used in Blue4est® cannot entirely be separated from the fiber pulp when it is redissolved. The resulting recycled material is light to dark gray in color, which is of course undesirable for use in brilliant white recycled paper. However, this is also the case for other components of wastepaper like water-soluble printing inks and dyed paper. That is why, when producing high-quality graphic recycled or packaging paper from wastepaper, mixed household and commercial wastepaper is sorted and graded according to certain quality properties in accordance with the European standard EN 643.
One of the highest quality types of wastepaper is grade 1.11.00 paper, known as “paper for de-inking.” Types of wastepaper that are unsuitable for the purpose of de-inking, such as unbleached packaging paper or Blue4est® checkout receipts, are excluded from this grade of paper as far as possible. This has been definitively confirmed by sorting tests with a much higher proportion of Blue4est® than is usually present in practice.
more at: https://www.koehlerpaper.com/en/news/publications/Blue4est-Checkout-Receipt-Can-Be-Disposed-Of-as-Wastepaper.php