Receipt-paper measurement methodology

Scope

This first methodology measures receipt operations. It does not calculate trees, water, greenhouse-gas emissions or verified environmental impact. The boundary begins with eligible receipts and ends with estimated receipt-paper length and equivalent rolls not printed.

Accepted inputs

Use digital receipts created, confirmed paper prints avoided, average receipt length, roll length, paper width or mass per area when known, measurement period, adoption rate and duplicate-print rate. Printer energy may be included only in a separate future analysis supported by device-specific evidence.

Measured and customer-provided data

Label a value measured only when a documented system or observation produced it. Label it customer-provided when the business supplied it. Do not infer a paper print avoided from a digital receipt alone; confirm that no parallel print occurred.

Core calculations

Eligible monthly receipts = receipts per operating day × operating days. Estimated paper receipts avoided = eligible receipts × digital-delivery percentage. Estimated paper length = avoided receipts × average receipt length. Equivalent rolls = estimated paper length ÷ roll length. Annual views multiply the monthly operating estimate by 12 unless actual monthly data is available.

Uncertainty

Use an uncertainty allowance that reflects variation in receipt length, adoption and duplicate printing. Show a low and high range around the central estimate. Do not present decimal precision that the inputs cannot support.

Required output record

Record assumptions, each data source, the formula, unit, uncertainty, measurement date, limitations and whether each value is measured or estimated. Preserve the methodology version used for a published result.

Excluded equivalences

Trees, water, carbon, climate and biodiversity equivalences are excluded until a separately reviewed methodology establishes an appropriate system boundary, geography, data quality and independent review. Digital infrastructure also needs to be inside any future comparison. [6]

Practical checklist

• Define eligible receipts and period.
• Confirm no parallel paper print.
• Record length and roll assumptions.
• Choose and justify uncertainty.
• Label measured versus estimated.
• Publish formulas, units and limitations.

Next steps

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