4 ms·

Do thermal prints still use materials that are endocrine disruptors, I don't know. But something to consider. https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/publications

Do thermal prints still use materials that are endocrine disruptors, I don't know. But something to consider. https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/publications/human-exposure-to-bisphenol-a https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/publications/human-exp...

igniuss 7mo ago
It's been regulated since 2020 in Europe at least. > As part of the EU’s REACH Regulation Annex XVII, a restriction banning Bisphenol A (BPA) content in thermal paper above 0.02% by weight came into effect on January 2, 2020. This prohibition was implemented due to health concerns associated with BPA exposure bpa free thermal paper is pretty easy to source from anywhere now because of this.
- conception 7mo ago
  From my understanding, BPA was just replaced either a similar chemicals https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590182625000372 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259018262... If the law calls out BPA exclusively and not a more general description, it’s just a false sense of safety.
  - ninalanyon 7mo ago
    Yes it specifically limits the sale and use of Bisphenol A. The obvious alternatives Bisphenol S and Bisphenol F are not mentioned. https://reach-info.ineris.fr/sites/snar-reach/files/pdf/annexe_xvii_2023_en.pdf https://reach-info.ineris.fr/sites/snar-reach/files/pdf/anne...
  - igniuss 7mo ago
    The ones I've been able to source easily are Phenol-Free, which used to be a pain to find before the eu ban, those are (I think) bpa and bps free at least. I'll need to double check to be certain though, I haven't considered them replacing BPA woth BPS, that definitely makes it a false sense of safety
VladVladikoff 7mo ago
Yeah I was excited about such a project concept until I saw it was thermal printer. Would love a little Polaroid type camera with inexpensive film for my kids to play with, but I don’t want them playing with thermal paper, kids put literally everything in their mouths.
- alistairSH 7mo ago
  Fuji Instax Mini is probably the closest you'll get right now. But, the film isn't exactly cheap.
vanderZwan 7mo ago
This brand claims to be fully recyclable: https://www.koehlerpaper.com/en/products/Thermal-paper/TH_Blue4est_POS_cash-register-rolls.php https://www.koehlerpaper.com/en/products/Thermal-paper/TH_Bl... It supposedly works by using a layer of reflective bubbles that collapses when exposed to heat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc1mlCThevg&t=20s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc1mlCThevg&t=20s Of course, I don't know how those bubbles are made or how they are made to collapse from heat, so for all I know that layer still uses chemicals that currently slip through regulations. But I can also imagine that it is doable to create such a "functional layer" with safe materials.
- buccal 7mo ago
  One shop network used blue paper here but changed to white some time ago. Contrast was not great but I guess the price was the reason for the change.
- thomascountz 7mo ago
  Here seems to be some examples of printed images on Blue4est paper[1]. [1]: https://thermalprintcameras.wordpress.com/blue4est-paper/ https://thermalprintcameras.wordpress.com/blue4est-paper/
- kleinishere 7mo ago
  2017 EPA Award as well : https://www.epa.gov/greenchemistry/green-chemistry-challenge-2017-designing-greener-chemicals-award https://www.epa.gov/greenchemistry/green-chemistry-challenge...

igniuss 7mo ago

It's been regulated since 2020 in Europe at least. > As part of the EU’s REACH Regulation Annex XVII, a restriction banning Bisphenol A (BPA) content in thermal paper above 0.02% by weight came into effect on January 2, 2020. This prohibition was implemented due to health concerns associated with BPA exposure bpa free thermal paper is pretty easy to source from anywhere now because of this.

conception 7mo ago
From my understanding, BPA was just replaced either a similar chemicals https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590182625000372 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259018262... If the law calls out BPA exclusively and not a more general description, it’s just a false sense of safety.
- ninalanyon 7mo ago
  Yes it specifically limits the sale and use of Bisphenol A. The obvious alternatives Bisphenol S and Bisphenol F are not mentioned. https://reach-info.ineris.fr/sites/snar-reach/files/pdf/annexe_xvii_2023_en.pdf https://reach-info.ineris.fr/sites/snar-reach/files/pdf/anne...
- igniuss 7mo ago
  The ones I've been able to source easily are Phenol-Free, which used to be a pain to find before the eu ban, those are (I think) bpa and bps free at least. I'll need to double check to be certain though, I haven't considered them replacing BPA woth BPS, that definitely makes it a false sense of safety

VladVladikoff 7mo ago

Yeah I was excited about such a project concept until I saw it was thermal printer. Would love a little Polaroid type camera with inexpensive film for my kids to play with, but I don’t want them playing with thermal paper, kids put literally everything in their mouths.

alistairSH 7mo ago
Fuji Instax Mini is probably the closest you'll get right now. But, the film isn't exactly cheap.

vanderZwan 7mo ago

This brand claims to be fully recyclable: https://www.koehlerpaper.com/en/products/Thermal-paper/TH_Blue4est_POS_cash-register-rolls.php https://www.koehlerpaper.com/en/products/Thermal-paper/TH_Bl... It supposedly works by using a layer of reflective bubbles that collapses when exposed to heat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc1mlCThevg&t=20s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc1mlCThevg&t=20s Of course, I don't know how those bubbles are made or how they are made to collapse from heat, so for all I know that layer still uses chemicals that currently slip through regulations. But I can also imagine that it is doable to create such a "functional layer" with safe materials.

buccal 7mo ago
One shop network used blue paper here but changed to white some time ago. Contrast was not great but I guess the price was the reason for the change.
thomascountz 7mo ago
Here seems to be some examples of printed images on Blue4est paper[1]. [1]: https://thermalprintcameras.wordpress.com/blue4est-paper/ https://thermalprintcameras.wordpress.com/blue4est-paper/
kleinishere 7mo ago
2017 EPA Award as well : https://www.epa.gov/greenchemistry/green-chemistry-challenge-2017-designing-greener-chemicals-award https://www.epa.gov/greenchemistry/green-chemistry-challenge...