Founded earlier this year, this Irish start-up is tackling a hidden risk to Irish consumers – till roll that contains harmful chemicals.
In a time of unprecedented access to information, there’s never been a more focused awareness of hidden dangers in everyday appliances.
From microplastics making their way into our diets to harmful chemicals showing up in children’s toys, the discourse on these oft unseen concerns has rightfully become more commonplace.
One of these unexpected sources of worry lies in an object typical to the consumer’s day to day: receipt paper.
Standard receipt paper is often coated with harmful phenols such as bisphenol-A (BPA) and bisphenol-S (BPS), which are chemical developers that assist in the heat-activated printing process.
Bisphenols are linked to hormone disruption, associated health issues and environmental damage. While BPA has been banned in the EU, BPS is still in circulation.
Luckily there are businesses committed to providing safe alternatives to these chemicals, including our Start-up of the Week, EcoSafe Products.
EcoSafe Products is an Irish start-up that supplies certified phenol-free thermal paper to Irish businesses.
“Our mission is to replace harmful everyday materials with safer, more sustainable alternatives starting with something most people overlook: the humble receipt roll,” explains co-founder Grace McNamara to SiliconRepublic.com.
How it started
McNamara and fellow co-founder Donna Flannery both share experience in hospitality, while drawing on backgrounds in different sectors.
McNamara has worked in hospitality, quality assurance and social enterprise across Ireland, Belgium, the UK and Australia, while Flannery – who also runs a successful entertainment business – has worked in hospitality, sales, and youth and family support work.
The co-founders, who are lifelong friends, were inspired to set up EcoSafe this year out of a “shared passion for cleaner, safer living”, according to McNamara.
The target sector for this start-up is any Irish business using till or card machine receipts.
“Most thermal receipts still contain phenols like BPS, which can be absorbed through the skin,” says McNamara. “We saw a clear opportunity to provide education around the issue and offer a safer alternative.”
She explains that thermal paper typically contains chemical developers that react to heat. These developers are often bisphenol-based, such as BPA or BPS.
“While BPA is now banned in the EU, BPS remains in widespread use and is under review,” says McNamara. “We source certified phenol-free thermal paper that avoids all bisphenol derivatives, including BPS, and meets FSC certification standards. It’s safer for people and better for the environment.”
How it’s going
The start-up is currently in an “early but exciting” stage, according to McNamara. EcoSafe has secured its first customers, including an unnamed B Corp business, and its Shopify site is now live.
While the team is not currently pursuing funding, it’s open to the prospect down the line. For now, the company is focused on “bootstrapping and proving the market”.
McNamara has high praise when it comes to her experience of the Irish start-up scene, which she says is full of energy and creativity, especially in sustainability and health. While the team recognises the availability of great support, McNamara wants to see an improved awareness of product safety beyond food and cosmetics.
Awareness is one of the hurdles that stands out most for EcoSafe.
“Educating people about an invisible risk – phenols in receipt paper – has been a challenge,” says McNamara. “Many believe ‘BPA-free’ means safe, without realising that BPS and other phenols may be just as harmful. But the more we talk about it, the more interest we generate.”
Going forward, McNamara hopes that EcoSafe will become “Ireland’s go-to supplier for non-toxic, eco-conscious business essentials”, while educating businesses along the way.
“We want safe alternatives to be the default, not the exception.”
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