More than three-quarters of shoppers said they would switch to digital receipts after finding out how many trees are cut down to generate paper receipts, with the figure rising to 87 per cent among those under 25.
By comparison, just 61 percent of those 66 and older said the same, while 74 percent of those between 56 and 65 said they would favor a digital alternative, according to data from digital receipt platform Yocuda.
The company says 200,000 trees are cut down in the UK to supply paper receipts and up to 11.2 billion receipts are printed in the country each year.
300 billion receipts are printed worldwide every year and 25 million trees are cut down to facilitate this process, ParcelHero said.
A relic of the past? Paper receipts could be on their way out as three-quarters of shoppers say they would choose a digital alternative
Ed Drax, CEO of Yocuda, said: ‘Younger generations, having grown up in an era of climate consciousness, are setting the standard for what they expect from retailers.
‘Their purchasing habits are increasingly aligned with their values and they want to see the companies they support take concrete steps to reduce environmental damage.’
While many will be able to relate to the experience of laboriously spelling out an email address to a retail employee, 52 percent of shoppers said “convenience” was their primary motivation for choosing digital receipts, compared to 41 percent who focused on environmental concerns.
Among younger generations, the majority said environmental benefits were their primary motivation for using e-receipts.
In fact, nearly three-quarters of shoppers would request a digital receipt when offered the option.
Digital receipts ensure that an important receipt is never misplaced or lost, meaning you no longer need to search for the correct receipt when you need it for a return.
This is certainly good news for three-quarters of people who admitted to throwing away a receipt they wanted to keep, and 66 percent had lost a receipt they needed for a return.
Despite this, many of those who prefer paper receipts still prefer to keep a physical record of their transactions.
About 43 percent of people age 66 and older said they prefer paper receipts for this reason, compared with an average of 31 percent.
There are also concerns that shoppers are opening themselves up to promotional material. Research by Which? in 2023 found that e-receipts often came with marketing content and promotions attached.
While not everyone’s cup of tea, up to 96 percent of shoppers still see digital receipts as a way to reduce their environmental impact, and 57 percent said they would like to see more retailers offer e-receipt options.
Still, while many retailers have embraced digital receipts, others have introduced receipt scanners at self-checkout exits to prevent theft. However, this leaves shoppers with no choice but to print out a paper receipt.
Drax said: ‘The data makes it clear: UK shoppers are ready to ditch paper receipts in favour of a digital solution that is better for both the environment and their own convenience.
‘What was once considered a small and mundane part of the shopping experience (receiving a paper receipt) is now being scrutinized for its environmental impact and inefficiency.’