On January 1, 2026, Washington state implemented a groundbreaking rule that bans all bisphenols in thermal receipt paper, making it the first state in the U.S. to do so. Bisphenols—including BPA and its substitutes like BPS—are chemicals commonly used in thermal receipts and linked to hormonal disruption, reproductive harm, metabolic issues, and developmental effects. Millions of people handle receipts daily, exposing cashiers, retail workers, and shoppers to these harmful substances through skin contact.

Adopted under the state’s Safer Products for Washington law, this policy reflects science-based regulation and the availability of safer alternatives. Washington authorities determined that healthier options are already attainable, eliminating the need to accept harmful bisphenols as a cost of business.

A recent survey showed that 18 of 46 major retailers have already restricted bisphenols in receipts nationwide, including Costco, Target, Starbucks, and Walgreens, though many others have not publicly disclosed their alternatives.

By banning all bisphenols as a class, Washington’s rule prevents chemical swapping—ensuring that replacing one harmful version with another is not an option. This sets a new benchmark for health-protective regulation nationwide

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Washington state; Bisphenols; BPA; Hormonal disruption; Harmful substances