Comment by VladVladikoff
19 hours ago
I would love to do some fun things with the thermal printer I have lying around, however, I’m not so sure it is possible to get BPA free paper. Even the “BPA free” paper comes with similar molecules like BPS, which has been shown to be just as bad for the human endocrine system. If anyone can correct me on this and point me to some paper I would be comfortable with my kids handling (kids put everything in their mouths), please let me know.
In Germany there is a thermal paper that is considered food contact safe
https://www.koehlerpaper.com/en/products/Thermal-paper/TH_Bl...
Maybe someone sells this where you live? I have found a shop in the US: https://www.ncco.com/blue4est/
Searching for blue4est was the key.
I just checked and there is even a seller on Amazon delivering in the U.S., so it shouldn't be too hard to get.
Most of the alternatives today (including the Costco receipt in my pocket) are labeled "phenol free". As I understand it they use vitamin c or a urea derived compound.
Whoa! Really? That’s cool! Thanks!
Yep! WA State is the first to ban retailers from using phenol paper starting this year. I'd imagine hobbyists buying thermal printers online are likely to end up with the bad stuff, so I think it's good for people to be aware of the issue and the fact that there are cheap alternatives.
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Oekobon [0] claims to sell BPA and BPS free paper, they they do say that phenol-free paper doesn't have either BPA or BPS.
[0] https://www.oekobon.de/