NCCO International 
Even in the digital age, paper receipts remain common and essential for businesses across America. And thousands of kitchen printers, POS systems, and credit card machines still rely on thermal receipt paper as a result. But for as essential as it is, some thermal printer paper can be downright dangerous for the people handling it day after day.
What makes it thermal paper?
In the past, Phenol-based chemicals such as Bisphenol A (BPA) or Bisphenol S (BPS) were used to coat thermal papers. These chemicals protected the paper and printer against overheating. Without these chemicals, continued printing could cause enough heat to burn the paper or destroy the entire printer. It sounds like a bit of a stretch, but it’s true!
After years of use, the harmful effects of Phenol-based chemicals became clear. Long-term handling of these chemicals–even in small amounts–can lead to several health conditions.
So, is Phenol-free thermal paper a thing?
Thankfully, the use of thermal paper coated with BPA, BPS, and other Phenol-based chemicals is no longer commonplace with register rolls. And yet, many rolls still contain some form of these harmful chemicals.
Luckily, it’s no longer necessary to use these chemicals to protect printer rolls from fire. Phenol-free receipt paper rolls produce the same quality of print as traditional thermal paper. These Phenol-free alternatives also protect POS systems, credit card machines, and kitchen printers against overheating and damage like their predecessors—only without the harmful chemicals.
Looking for non-toxic, high-quality printer paper? We can help
When it comes to Phenol-free paper, NCCO offers various options, including one-ply bond and thermal rolls. We can accommodate nearly any machine with a variety of lengths and styles of rolls. Best of all, we manufacture all our thermal register rolls in the USA using recycled and globally sourced materials. And, of course, our thermal papers are BPA-free.
Need help finding the right ribbon? We can help with that too
Not sure which ribbon you’ll need for your printer? Use our Ribbon Finder tool to find the exact SKU your printer requires.
You can also request a sample of any register roll type you’re interested in. Click one of our register rolls or ribbons, select the packaging options and lengths (where required), and a green button labeled “Request Sample” will appear. This button will lead you to our sample request form.