The Carbon Trust recently undertook the world's first Lifecycle Analysis of paper receipts. Findings show that a single paper receipt that ends up in landfill is responsible for 2.5g CO2e entering our atmosphere. That's more than 28,000 tonnes of carbon emitted in the UK each year because of receipts.
Bira along with The British Retail Consortium has pledged support to the Beat the Receipt campaign, recognising optional printing as a key step in reducing retail emissions.
There is already legal precedent for ending automatic receipt printing in Europe. The Paperless Pledge is an opportunity for UK retail to lead from the front and demonstrate it's commitment to a sustainable future.