Thermal paper, coated with a heat-sensitive chemical layer, generates text or images through a reaction between colorless dyes (e.g., crystal violet lactone) and developers (e.g., bisphenols) when exposed to temperatures above 70°C. This inkless process enables rapid printing via thermal print heads

Key Applications

1. ​Retail & Logistics: As the backbone of POS receipts, price tags, and shipping labels, thermal paper drives global transactions with its high speed and low operational cost. It dominates supermarket checkouts and express delivery systems
    
   .
2. ​Healthcare: Medical-grade thermal paper is critical for ECG machines and industrial recorders, ensuring accurate data retention. Its instant imaging supports life-saving decisions in emergencies
    
   .
3. ​Industrial Use: Widely adopted for lottery tickets, fax paper, and airline baggage tags, it now integrates with IoT devices for smart logistics tracking
    
   .

Tech Advances & Sustainability

Conventional thermal paper containing BPA raised health concerns, necessitating post-handling precautions

. Innovations like ​BPA/BPS-free coatings​ and extended-life formulas now preserve prints for up to 30 years

. Recyclable variants further align the industry with circular economy goals

Future Outlook

Driven by e-commerce and logistics, the thermal paper market is projected to grow exponentially, with Asia leading expansion through 2034

. Balancing efficiency and sustainability is pivotal-Thermal Paper