ReceiptSG - Digital Earth Warriors

Vision

"Imagine a world without printed paper receipts — saving millions of trees and reducing tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Right now, Singapore generates ~3 million paper receipts every day, adding approximately 10 tonnes of CO2 to our atmosphere — that’s the equivalent of burning nearly 4,000 liters of petrol every single day.

Eliminating paper receipts isn’t just about convenience — it’s about protecting our planet."

Problem Statement

NEED TO collect paper receipts remains an unavoidable part of everyday life
WHEN consumers make domestic purchases at grocery stores, restaurants,
retail shops, and malls. BUT this widespread practice generates millions of
printed receipts daily, contributing to unnecessary waste WHILE failing to
effectively support users in tracking and managing their expenses. THIS
RESULTS IN significant environmental impact through paper waste and
increased carbon footprint, harming our planet.

Current State

• Thousands of merchants continue to print paper receipts after every purchase — most of which are discarded immediately.
• Cash register terminals (POS) require printers and paper for receipts, adding costs without providing much value to the business.

Proposed Solution

• Replace printed receipts with digital receipts by generating a QR code at the point of sale (POS).
• Customers can scan the QR code using a mobile app to receive a digital receipt instantly — reducing paper waste and helping them track and manage expenses effortlessly.
• This solution lowers operational costs for merchants and provides customers with a convenient, eco-friendly way to manage their purchases.

Impact

• Every paper receipt not printed saves ~3g CO2 emission to the environment
• Singapore can save up to ~10 tons of CO2 everyday by avoiding to print ~3 million paper receipts

Outcomes Analysis

• Top 3 reasons to switch to digital receipts are environmental benefits, easier storage* (i.e. no more lost receipts) and convenience at check-out
• Top 3 non-negotiables to switch to digital receipts are receipt authenticity, data security and ease of collection

Future Steps

• Incorporate the QR code option for every POS/Cash Register in Singapore
• Integrate the POS terminal with the customer payment card to collect the Digital Receipt directly to their email or handphone number
• A mobile app for everyone in Singapore to scan and collect their receipts digitally
• Ease of use for every consumer to track and manage their expenses with necessary insights using Data Analytics and AI

Team

• Chang Sau Sheong (DCE)
• Jeremy Jee (GovTech HQ - CIO Office)
• Vinayak Satapute (BCA & GDT/SAO)
• Raghavendra Krishnamurthy (SSG & GDT/SAO)
• Joryn Tan (BCA - DBA)