Is Gen Z Ditching Paper Receipts? Most Young Shoppers Are Opting for Digital Copies Instead
More than three-quarters of consumers said they would switch to digital receipts after learning how many trees are cut down to generate paper receipts. Among those under 25, that figure rose to 87 percent.
By comparison, only 61 percent of those aged 66 and over said they felt the same way, while 74 percent of those aged 56 to 65 said they preferred a digital alternative, according to data from digital receipt platform Yocuda.
According to the company, 200,000 trees are cut down in the UK to produce paper receipts, and a staggering 11.2 billion receipts are printed in the UK each year.
Worldwide, 300 billion receipts are printed each year, requiring the cutting down of 25 million trees, according to ParcelHero.
Relic of the past? Paper receipts could be on their way out, as three-quarters of shoppers say they would choose a digital alternative
Edward Drax, CEO of Yocuda, said: ‘Younger generations have grown up in an era of climate awareness and are setting the standard for what they expect from retailers.
“Their shopping behavior is increasingly aligned with their values and they want the companies they support to take action to reduce environmental damage.”
While many people can relate to the experience of laboriously typing in an email address to a store associate, 52 percent of consumers said “convenience” was their main motivation for choosing digital receipts, compared to 41 percent who emphasized environmental concerns.
Among younger generations, the majority indicated that environmental benefits were the main motivation for using e-receipts.
Nearly three-quarters of consumers would ask for a digital receipt if given the choice.
With digital receipts, you can be sure that important receipts are not lost or misplaced. This means you no longer have to search for the correct receipt when you need to make a return shipment.
This is undoubtedly good news for three quarters of people who admit to throwing away a receipt they wanted to keep, and 66 percent of people have lost a receipt they needed to return something.
Despite this, many people who prefer to receive paper receipts prefer to keep physical proof of their transactions.
About 43 percent of people over 66 said they prefer paper receipts for this reason, compared to an average of 31 percent.
There are also concerns that shoppers are open to promotional material. A 2023 survey by Which? found that e-vouchers were often delivered with marketing content and promotions.
While not everyone is happy about it, a whopping 96 percent of consumers still see digital receipts as a way to reduce their impact on the environment, with 57 percent saying they would like to see more retailers offer e-receipts.
However, while many retailers have adopted digital receipts, others have introduced receipt scanners to eliminate self-checkout to prevent shoplifting. However, this leaves shoppers with no choice but to print out a paper receipt.
Drax said: “The data makes it clear: UK consumers are ready to ditch paper receipts and instead opt for a digital solution that is better for the environment and their own convenience.
“What was once seen as a small, mundane part of the shopping experience – receiving a paper receipt – is now coming under scrutiny for its environmental impact and inefficiency.”