Green Chemistry and Design: BPA in Thermal Paper Project
The intent of this project is to demonstrate the extent to which state grant support can stimulate green chemistry and design projects in the private sector.
This web page will serve as a clearinghouse for updates on the implementation of this project and for other information supporting or generated by this project.
MPCA staff thanks the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Pollution Prevention Program for its grant that supported this project.
Notices
Request for Proposals: BPA in Thermal Paper Project
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) requested proposals from qualified responders to work with the MPCA to document and address the use of Bisphenol A (BPA) in thermal receipt paper used by the hospitality sector in Minnesota. The Responder would be responsible for recruiting hospitality partners, coordinating and documenting testing of thermal receipt papers currently in use, assisting hospitality partners in researching paperless-point-of-sale technology options, and assisting them in switching to such systems.
The MPCA has approximately $60,469 for a contract with the Responder selected as best meeting the evaluation criteria stated in the RFP.
The deadline for proposals has now passed.
Documents
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Bisphenol A (BPA) in Thermal Paper Project (mm-rfp1-05a) -
Attachment I: Response Cover Page/Checklist (mm-rfp1-05b) - Attachment II-A: Affidavit of Noncollusion (PDF Version) (mm-rfp1-05c)
- Attachment II-B: Veteran-owned Preference Form (PDF Version) (mm-rfp1-05d)
- Attachment II-C: Certification Regarding Lobbying (PDF Version) (mm-rfp1-05e)
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Attachment III: Cost Proposal Form (PDF Version) (mm-rfp1-05f) - Attachment IV Sample - Professional and Technical Services Contract (mm-rfp1-05g)
Request for Information: Provision of Paperless Point-of-Sale or e-Receipt Systems and Related Services
Companies that provide services, hardware or software that facilitate paperless point-of-sale transactions or provision of digital receipt were invited to submit information. Information provided will be used by the MPCA and shared with businesses that may be interested in such services.
For respondents submitting proprietary information they wish to remain non-public, a sample letter for such a request may be obtained by contacting Phyllis Strong (Phyllis.strong@state.mn.us).
The deadline for RFI responses has now passed.
- Provision of Paperless Point-of-Sale or e-Receipt Systems and Related Services (PDF Version) (mm-rfp1-08a)
- Response Form (PDF Version) (mm-rfp1-08b)
Background
This MPCA project is equal parts pollution prevention and solid waste source reduction to reduce bisphenol A (BPA) 
use in Minnesota. BPA is a reproductive, developmental and systemic toxicant in animal studies and is weakly estrogenic.
BPA is very useful in thermal papers and is used in thermal papers at point of sale in everyday retail outlets. Because of this, the receipts become an avenue for BPA exposure for all who handle receipts, and a mechanism for spreading BPA through the environment through the recycling stream when receipts are recycled into other paper products.
Recent studies have found that individual thermal receipts from retailers and restaurants can contain a mass of BPA that is 250 to 1,000 times greater than the amount in a can of food. Other studies have confirmed that BPA in thermal papers is easily transferred onto the hands of those who handle the receipt. While the rate of absorption through the skin is not completely certain, those who handle receipts as part of their employment have been found to have higher amounts of BPA in their bodies than other people.
While making paper more costly, protective coatings can reduce the amount of BPA that ends up on human hands. Protective coatings, however, do not keep the BPA from contaminating the recycled paper stream and other products.
This project will target the hospitality sector, paper recyclers and other interested partners to:
- determine how much BPA is contained in the thermal papers used by participating partners,
- estimate how much BPA is contained in Minnesota’s recycled papers,
- promote switching to paperless point-of sale systems, or as a second-choice option, to switch to BPA-free thermal papers or a non-thermal paper system, and
- promote use of paperless systems or BPA-free or non-thermal papers to other Minnesota businesses
Vendor(s) for Digital Receipt Services: There are many providers of digital receipt services. The following company(ies) responded to the MPCA’s Request for Information: Transaction Tree
MPCA contact: Madalyn Cioci, 651-757-2276
