"Yes, I Would Like an End-of-Life Receipt, Please"

In France, receipts are becoming a thing of the past—at least for low-value purchases like coffee or magazines. Under new regulations, receipts will no longer be automatically printed. Instead, they’ll be available upon request, signalling a shift in how we view transactional records.

This isn’t the first time receipts have undergone an evolution. Their origins are deeply rooted in human history. According to the American Numismatic Society, receipts date back to ancient Mesopotamia, where economic complexity demanded record-keeping. Later, Ancient Egyptians issued tax receipts, proof of payment citizens were expected to keep—or risk being taxed again. It seems that from the moment economic systems became intricate, receipts became essential.

But this change in France raises an interesting question: As receipts for everyday transactions fade, could there be room for new kinds of receipts that deal with current problems—ones that offer accountability not just for purchases but for what comes next?

The Case for an "End-of-Life" Receipt

We’re already familiar with receipts marking the beginning of a transaction, confirming ownership or service access. But what about the end of a product’s lifecycle? Could a receipt offer evidence of responsible disposal or recycling?

In some cases, this concept already exists. For example, a "disposal receipt" is used in municipal waste systems, confirming that specific types and volumes of waste were handled appropriately. However, these systems are often limited to industrial or large-scale waste management.

Some thoughtful companies offer an impact receipt at purchase to account for the material impact up to that point. For example Asket the fashion brand tots up the total carbon for creation of a product and shipping to the consumer as an Impact Receipt. Despite the business championing mending and longevity on their website, surprisingly they don’t mention the options on how an item ends.⁠1

For consumers, accountability at the end of a product's life is rarely visible. Many businesses tout their environmental credentials, boasting terms like “sustainability,” “circularity,” or “offsetting.” Yet these claims are often backed by vague promises rather than transparent evidence. An “end-of-life” receipt could change that—offering proof that a product has been neutralized, recycled, or responsibly dismantled.

This issue is highlighted further by a report from SourceMaterial, Die Zeit, and The Guardian about Carbon Offsetting not achieving the results businesses believed. Where “analysis of nearly 100 million carbon credits found that only a fraction of them resulted in real emissions reductions.” ⁠2 Many consumers believed the carbon off setting story, trusted those businesses to deliver.

Accountability Beyond the Point of Sale

In the EU, the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive outlines processes for recycling electronics. Yet, consumers are rarely aware of what happens once they hand back an old phone or laptop. Behind the scenes, intricate processes are meant to ensure that components are reused or safely disposed of. But it would be more reassuring—and empowering—to receive a receipt confirming this?

Such receipts wouldn’t just serve as proof for consumers; they could also drive transparency across industries. If businesses provided evidence of their end-of-life processes, it would transform vague sustainability claims into measurable actions. It could also encourage better participation in recycling systems, as consumers could tangibly see the impact of their choices.

Another aspect a receipt could include is helping the consumer balance perception and reality between the lifespan of the material in the product and usage of the product. For example, children’s toys have a very short usage period in comparison to the product material lifespan. Often made robustly out of plastic, these have the potential to last decades, but due to the changing nature of a child’s engagement with toy as they grow its usage will be far less. Revealing this in an End of Life Receipt helps focus attention on this division.

A New Chapter for Evidence-Based Consumption

As we move from consumption-driven economies to sustainability-focused ones, we should rethink the evidence trail left behind by our purchasing habits. Receipts mark the beginning of our transactional relationship with a product. Shouldn't they also mark the end?

An “end-of-life receipt” could become a cornerstone of accountability—whether for waste management, product recycling, or environmental offsetting. It would empower consumers, pressure businesses to keep promises, and ensure that the lifecycle of a product is documented from start to finish.

So next time you hear a claim about “sustainability,” imagine asking for proof Asking how it ends. Imagine saying, “Yes, I would like an end-of-life receipt, please.”

1 https://www.asket.com/se/transparency/impact

2 https://www.source-material.org/vercompanies-carbon-offsetting-claims-inflated-methodologies-flawed/